On March 8, 2006, Dr. Tang Lixin, deputy director of the Department of Anorectal Medicine of Huai’an City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, saw a young male patient who was only 53 days old. According to his mother, she had inadvertently noticed a red lump on the right buttock of the baby’s anus two days before she came to the hospital, which was not large at first and did not bother her. As time passed, the lump became larger and larger; when touched, the child struggled and cried significantly, so the mother became anxious and went to the local hospital. Because the child was too young and the medical technology was backward, the local hospital leaders suggested that the patient come to the Anorectal Disease Treatment Center of Huai’an City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is known for its expertise in treating anorectal diseases in northern Jiangsu Province, for treatment. After careful examination by Deputy Director Tang Lixin, it was found that there was a red oval-shaped mass on the right side of the child’s anus about 2-4 cm from the center of the anus, with soft and fluctuating texture, and a cord-like tissue was found leading to the same side of the anus, which was diagnosed as a pediatric paranal abscess with anal fistula. The operation was successfully completed in half an hour without pain. The child was discharged from the hospital on March 16, 2006 after only 8 days of hospitalization under the careful care and treatment of Deputy Director Tang Lixin and the entire medical staff, who are known for their delicate surgery, minimal pain and low recurrence rate. The dedication and service attitude of all the medical and nursing staff in the ward were well received by the child’s family and the patients in the ward.
When asked about the specific causes of pediatric anal fistula, Deputy Director Tang Lixin explained that perianal rectal abscesses are generally caused by septic infection of a tissue in the anal canal known as the “anal gland”. The anal gland is located in the lower part of the internal and external sphincter gap, and its function is to secrete polysaccharide mucus to assist defecation and protect the rectal mucosa. The development and function of the anal glands are mainly regulated by human androgens, as are the sebaceous glands, and the androgens from the mother’s body are at a high level in a newborn’s life. The androgens in the newborn’s body are at a high level, so there are more perianal infections and fistulas are easily formed.