Question
The child is afraid to defecate and always cries loudly during bowel movements. Starting at six months old, the child has seen two local doctors. What kind of help is needed?
Answer
Some children cry and fuss during bowel movements, leaving parents at a loss. When faced with this situation, parents should check if the child has anal fissures. Anal fissures can occur in children of any age. The main symptoms include pain during and after bowel movements, as well as bleeding during bowel movements. The amount of bleeding varies, with some only having bloodstains on the stool surface, and others having fresh blood discharged during bowel movements, which mainly depends on the size of the fissure. If the anus is opened, one can see a crack or shallow ulcer at the junction of the skin and mucosa around the anus. As stool passes through the anus, it stretches and re-tears the scabbed wound, causing pain. Therefore, the child cries out in pain. Over time, if the child fears pain and does not defecate, constipation can develop as a result.