Pediatric anal fistula

The anal canal is the end portion of the intestinal tract. It includes the rectum and anus. Feces normally pass through the anus out of the body. Sometimes an abnormal passageway develops from the anal canal to another organ. This may cause feces to be passed through the vagina, urinary tract, or skin instead of the anus.

The anal canal is the end portion of the intestinal tract. It includes the rectum and anus. Sometimes, an abnormal passage forms from the anal canal to the skin near the anus. This is called an anal fistula. Anal fistulas can also form from the anal canal to other organs, such as the vagina or urinary tract. An anal fistula may be congenital present at birth. Trauma to the anal canal and surgery can also lead to anal fistulas.

Try out PMC Labs and tell us what you think. Learn More. Perianal abscesses and fistula-in-ano are common diseases in infants and children that develop from infection in abnormally deep crypts of Morgagni. They are often encountered in infants younger than 12 months and display an extreme male predominance [ 1 , 2 ]. This sex-based difference may be explained by androgen excess or androgen-sensitive glands [ 1 ].

Perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano are well-described in the pediatric population. They are most common in infants less than 1 year of age and often resolve with oral antibiotics; occasionally they require drainage or fistulotomy. The etiology is commonly associated with cryptoglandular obstruction and subsequent infection, however alternative diagnoses should be considered in cases of recurrent abscesses and fistulae that are refractory to standard treatments. In this report, we present the case of an 8-year-old boy with a complex, recurrent fistula-in-ano that resulted from a rare congenital perirectal dermoid cyst. Perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano are relatively common in the pediatric population and are known to have a significant male predominance 1 — 8.