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Original poster

Baby anal abscess?? 😭😭

15 replies

ThatOneHurt · 13/01/2019 17:20

My baby has a lump on his bottom. He's 3 weeks old and from the googling (which was horrific) it looks like an anal abscess. Specifically a perianal abscess.
I'm freaking out, he's 3 weeks old and just from searching on here and finding adults that have suffered they sound horrifically painful.
He doesn't seem bothered by it now and I'm making an appointment first thing tomorrow.

Has anyone got any experience?!

No I'm not a troll. Poo troll, bum troll or any other kind of troll.
Just a very worried mum.

OP posts:

Stompythedinosaur · 13/01/2019 17:50

One of my dc had an anal fissure, and it was very painful for her. She was older, maybe 8 months or so.

If your baby is ok then don't worry too much, just get some advice tomorrow.

Original poster

ThatOneHurt · 13/01/2019 18:09

I was reading that sometimes the two are linked.

I never seem to make 'well' babies. There's always something.
Thanks for the reply.

OP posts:

Duckswaddle · 13/01/2019 18:23

My son had a perianal abscess at 5 months old, a consultant told me it was common in boys under 1.
It’s worrying but not too serious, take baby to dr and keep an eye, if baby gets poorly or seems unwell take to a&e. Wipe it with salt water (I was advised to do this at hospital). They were going to surgically drain my son’s anal glands but decided to just pop it in the end and after a few weeks it went away.

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Duckswaddle · 13/01/2019 18:26

They’ll give him antibiotics, but I found the salt water and (gross) squeezing the infection out was the most effective way to get rid of it. But again I only did this because a surgical consultant advised me to.

Original poster

ThatOneHurt · 13/01/2019 18:57

Thanks for your post @Duckswaddle, I will get some salt water.

There's no 'head' of any kind right now. Just a hard lump leading from his anus outward toward the cheek. But it wasn't there this morning so it's happening quickly.

The thought of him being in pain worries me greatly. Did your son suffer a lot with pain?

OP posts:

Duckswaddle · 13/01/2019 20:13

Yeah it will come to a head over time, which is what you want it to do. My son’s started off the same way. It was very painful for him, made him obviously uncomfortable.
Because of where it is, it’s very difficult to keep completely clean which is why they tend to last longer as poo etc just “reinfects” the area. It definitely needs the attention of a dr but please don’t be too worried. Ask them about pain relief for your little one, because it is very sore for them.

Original poster

ThatOneHurt · 13/01/2019 21:16

Oh bloody hell. I don't want him to go through this. It's makes me want to bloody cry.

OP posts:

Duckswaddle · 13/01/2019 21:29

I know exactly how you feel, I was very upset at the time, spent a lot of time worrying and your son is even younger than mine was. There was one night when he was so uncomfortable he wouldn’t feed or fall asleep so I took him to a&e. It’s horrible when they’re so small and helpless.
But it will go away and he will be fine. As I said, the surgical consultant who saw my son told me they were common in boys under 1 due to testosterone levels.

Original poster

ThatOneHurt · 13/01/2019 21:36

Were they able to help him in A&E? I just can't think what they would be able to give a baby to help them?

I don't think I'd be able to give my baby anything?!

OP posts:

Duckswaddle · 13/01/2019 21:55

They checked him over basically, I was worried about the infection spreading so needed some reassurance. They also scheduled him in for the op the next day, which he didn’t have in the end.
They’ll be able to give him something, antibiotics to try and clear the infection up and I’m sure they can recommend some pain relief.

Original poster

ThatOneHurt · 14/01/2019 11:45

We saw the GP this morning and he felt the lump and just said "I've no idea what that is."
And he said he had never seen a baby with an anal abscess before. He's a really experienced GP as well but this doesn't help me!

We are seeing a neonatal doctor next week so perhaps I can ask them but I'm not holding breath.

The GP gave fucidin cream but I feel like that's pointless as it's not his skin it's a lump under all of that. But at the same time it's not red or painful yet so he can't treat what he isn't symptomatic for I suppose.

@duckswaddle when your baby had antibiotics was it red and painful at that point?

OP posts:

Duckswaddle · 14/01/2019 16:44

It was red and sore-looking, yes. Is it just a lump then or does it looked inflamed at all?

Duckswaddle · 14/01/2019 16:45

The experienced GPs I saw also hadn’t seen it in a baby before, it was only when I went to the hospital that the consultant said it was common (children’s hospital as well).

Original poster

ThatOneHurt · 14/01/2019 16:57

He's been screaming all day and it's starting to look red to guess where I am? A&E.

The triage nurse said they see them all the time.
So I'm glad I came because I need reasurrance and/or a plan.

He's so very tiny that I'm just not happy with "Ive no idea what that is" from a GP.

OP posts:

Duckswaddle · 14/01/2019 17:18

Yes that’s very dismissive of the GP, particularly when he’s so small. When I first took my son to the GP she said she thought it was an abscess but wasn’t quite sure and she had a consultation with another GP to come up with a plan to deal with it. I’m glad you’ve got to a&e for some reassurance though, they will sort him out. It’s not nice at all but they are easily treatable.

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