Treatment of Perianal Abscess and Fistula in Infants and Young Children: From Basic Etiology to Clinical Features.

Perianal abscess and anal fistula are 2 common anorectal diseases in infants and young children. However, their causes, clinical diagnosis, and treatment remain controversial. Compared to adults, infants with these 2 diseases exhibit unique clinical characteristics. Blind pursuit of conservative treatment or surgery may worsen the condition, resulting in increased pain in young patients and greater economic burden and psychological harm to parents. Therefore, it is crucial to select correct and effective treatments. This review summarizes the relevant literature from the past 10 years and systematically explains the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, and treatment measures of perianal abscess and anal fistula in infants with the goal of providing clinicians a deeper understanding of perianal abscess and anal fistula in infants and summarizing safe and effective treatment methods.

Congenital pyriform sinus fistula presenting as a neck abscess in a newborn: A case report.

RATIONALE: Congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF) is a branchial abnormality originating from the third or fourth branchial pouch and is an important cause of anterior cervical abscess in children. Here we present a case of neck abscess in a newborn that was diagnosed as CPSF. PATIENT CONCERNS: A male infant with a birth weight of 3660 g was admitted to hospital 25 minutes after birth after discovery of a cystic mass with extensive skin swelling in the left side of the neck. B-mode ultrasonography of the left neck showed an anterior cervical cystic mass of indeterminate nature. DIAGNOSIS: Congenital pyriform sinus fistula. INTERVENTIONS: The neck abscess was incised and drained under general anesthesia. Examination under suspension laryngoscopy revealed a pyriform sinus fistula. Laser cauterization was performed simultaneously. The wound was dressed and anti-inflammatory treatment was provided. OUTCOMES: The neck wound healed uneventfully. After 3 months, the fistula was confirmed to be closed by laryngoscopy under general anesthesia. No recurrence was detected during 9 months of follow-up. LESSONS: CPSF should be strongly suspected in a patient with an unexplained neck abscess or recurrent acute suppurative thyroiditis, especially on the left side.

[Acute osteomyelitis of the clavicle in the newborn infant: a case report]. / L'ostéomyélite aiguë de la clavicule chez le nouveau-né : à propos d'un cas.

Acute osteomyelitis of the clavicle accounts for less than 3% of osteomyelitis cases, with its usual location in the middle third. It may be hematogenous, due to contiguity, or secondary to catheterization of the subclavian vein or neck surgery. The diagnosis is often delayed, and clinical symptoms may simulate obstetric brachial plexus palsy in young children. We report a new case of osteomyelitis of the clavicle in a 30-day-old newborn.

Neonatal orbital abscess.

Orbital abscess is life-threatening and rare in children. Reported herein is a term male neonate who had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus orbital abscess, and a literature review of this disease. A total of 16 neonates diagnosed with neonatal orbital abscess are reported in the literature. There is a mild male predilection and two neonates were delivered prematurely. Leukocytosis, fever, ethmoiditis and associated upper respiratory tract infection were found in approximately half of them. Eight neonates had sepsis and 14 patients underwent surgical intervention. One patient died. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 14 out of 17 patients. Neonatal orbital abscess is rarely encountered but may be fatal. Although streptococci are prevalent in childhood orbital infection, S. aureus was predominant in neonatal orbital abscess in the present series. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy against S. aureus is essential in treating neonatal orbital abs ess. This case suggests that a higher initial dose of vancomycin may be an effective and safe strategy for severe S. aureus infection in neonates.

[Perianal abscess and anal fistula in infancy and childhood. A congenital etiology?]. / Perianale Fisteln und Abszesse im Säuglings- und Kleinkindesalter. Eine kongenitale Atiologie?

BACKGROUND: Perianal abscess and anal fistula in childhood are commonly treated in the same way as abscess and fistula in adults. We questioned whether they represent a cryptoglandular infection, as in adults, or two different diseases with the same symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all medical records of 80 children (seven male, 73 female) who underwent surgical treatment for primary perianal abscess or primary anal fistula during a 10-year period. The records were analyzed concerning age at appearance of lesion, sex, diagnosis (fistula and/or abscess), and anatomic localization of the lesion. RESULTS: Of all the children, 67.5% were treated during their 1st year of life and another 10% during their 2nd year (group 1: 77.5%, n=62). Only 22.5% were 3 or older (group 2, n=18). Group 1 contained significantly more male infants (m:f 30:1). However, much more balanced sex distribution was detected in group 2 (m:f 2.6:1), similarly to adults. Analyzing anatomic localization, a second important difference could be found: in contrast to group 2, almost two thirds of all anal fistulas/abscesses in group 1 were localized horizontally between 3:00 and 9:00 o'clock in crown-rump position. CONCLUSIONS: Divergences in preference of age, sex, and localization suggest a congenital etiology for anal fistulas and perianal abscesses in children.

[Spinous process osteomyelitis of the thoracic vertebrae 10 and 11 in a newborn infant]. / Dornfortsatzosteomyelitis der Brustwirbel 10 und 11 bei einem Neugeborenen.

A case of a newborn with osteomyelitis of the spinous processes 10 and 11 is presented. The first clinical sign was a dorsothoracal abscess. Radiologically a destruction of the 10th, later also the 11th spinous process could be demonstrated. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated. The clinical course was mild. The pathogenesis of the disease is discussed. Such a case of newborn osteomyelitis has apparently not been described in the literature.

Gonococcal scalp abscess in a newborn.

We have described a 6-day-old male infant who presented with Neisseria gonorrhoeae conjunctivitis and a scalp abscess. Delivery was complicated by rupture of the membranes 24 hours before delivery and fetal monitoring for four hours. The rare scalp abscesses caused by gonococci cleared with penicillin therapy.