Signs of anal stenosis in children, parents should not be subjective
(Baonghean.vn) - Anal stenosis in children is a congenital malformation of the digestive tract with a rate of 1/5,000 children. Recently, NQB, a 9-month-old baby in Vinh City, Nghe An, was taken by his family to Vinh International Hospital for examination with common symptoms of this disease, which parents can easily confuse with other common diseases.
Baby NQB, 9 months old, in Vinh City, Nghe An, was brought to Vinh International Hospital by his family in a state of prolonged constipation, bloating and crying.
Baby B's mother said that baby B's bowel movements were completely normal in the first 3 months. From the 4th month, when the family started weaning, each time the baby had a bowel movement it became more difficult, the stool was as small as vermicelli. Thinking that the baby was constipated, the parents always tried to improve the baby's diet but to no avail.
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| Doctors at Vinh International Hospital perform anal plastic surgery for patient NQB. Photo: Kim Chung |
After being examined by a pediatric surgeon, the baby's stomach showed signs of bloating, and the anus showed only a small hole in the center of the anus. Abdominal ultrasound, X-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the rectum and part of the sigmoid colon were dilated due to the waste not being fully expelled. The doctor diagnosed baby B with anal stenosis (2R ~ 3mm).
Doctor Nguyen Van Tuan, pediatric surgeon, said:“Anal stenosis in childrenAnal stenosis is a congenital malformation that develops before the baby is born, usually occurring between the 5th and 7th week of pregnancy. This is a congenital malformation of the digestive tract with a ratio of 1/5000, the ratio of 3/1 occurring in boys compared to girls. Newborns with anal stenosis may also have other malformations such as: Renal or urinary tract malformations, abnormal spine, tracheal malformations, esophageal malformations, hand and foot malformations, Down syndrome, Hirschsprung disease (congenital megacolon), duodenal stenosis, congenital heart defects".
Most cases are treated surgically to open the blocked anal opening. Depending on factors such as the degree, condition, location and cause of the anal stenosis, the surgeon will choose the appropriate method.
Baby B was indicated for YV anal plastic surgery; Incision of an inverted Y shape, the base of the Y is located in the rectum, 2 branches of the Y are from the edge of the anal skin, cut all subcutaneous tissue to the end of the fibrous ring. Stitch the top of the 2 branches of the Y to the bottom of the base of the Y to form an inverted V shape.
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| X-ray image of a child with anal stenosis. Photo: Kim Chung |
Two weeks after surgery, baby B was able to go about his daily activities and defecate normally. However, to prevent the anal stenosis from recurring due to the surgical scar, the patient needs to have the anus dilated using a specialized instrument and performed 7-14 days after surgery with the frequency and depth according to the number from smallest to largest written on the instrument depending on age.
Anal stenosis is a disease that causes quite common symptoms in newborns. Therefore, parents need to pay attention to their children's hygiene. If there are unusual signs such as constipation, bloating, vomiting, difficulty defecating, etc., they need to take their children to reputable medical centers with specialists for early treatment to avoid dangerous complications that may occur; eliminate risks that affect the child's development./.
