Natural Health and Herbal Remedies Blog

A small tear around the anus can occur in toddlers and babies who are constipated.

Cause

Straining to pass a large, hard stool can overstretch and tear the delicate lining of the anus.

Clinical features

Your child may experience a sharp pain in the anal region during a bowel movement. You will usually notice a bright red streak of fresh blood either on the stool, or on the toilet paper after wiping. Sometimes the child will hold back his bowel movements because of painful defaecation. This can make the constipation worse and may be a predisposing factor in encopresis.

Treatment

Anal fissures heal well without any treatment. The mainstay of treatment should be directed towards dealing with any underlying constipation. Even if the child’s constipation has been relieved, he may continue to cry for several weeks afterwards when he opens his bowels, because he associates the pain he experienced with passing a bowel movement. This requires patience and understanding on the parents’ part, and lots of reassurance.

ANAL ITCH

The commonest cause of anal itching is due to traces of soap left on the skin after washing. This becomes an irritant. Other possible causes include worm infections or an anal fissure. Treatment of the underlying cause will stop the itch. Cleanse the anal area thoroughly and pat dry with a soft cloth.

*340\90\8*

read comments (0)