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Original poster

toddler with itchy anus

27 replies

strangerthanfiction · 14/07/2004 14:19

Sorry to be so graphic. Dd, 21 months, for about 2 weeks has had a sore red itchy anus which clearly annoys her as she's always trying to scratch it through her nappy and goes mad to get at it when I'm changing her. She gets very upset at nappy changing time and won't let me wipe her properly and also gets upset when getting into the bath. It's not nappy rash, doesn't look like it and isn't responding at all to nappy rash creams / leaving nappy off etc. It's focused round the anal area and I think her genitals might also be a bit red but she won't really let me look there. It's bright red with red spots going out towards the edges of the sore point. Should I take her to the GP? Any creams anyone can recommend apart from the usual nappy ones? Might it be thrush?

OP posts:
essbee · 14/07/2004 14:25

Message withdrawn

mears · 14/07/2004 14:25

Might it be thread worms? My DD first had threadworms when in nappies. Have a good look to see if there is anything small white and wriggly. GP will prescribe suitable treatment for her age if that is what it is . It may well be thrush so again GP is best person to see.

Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 14/07/2004 14:30

essbee, she wriggles round all the time and always has been a night time wriggler. How do you get worms?! I haven't noticed anything small and white and wriggly. Gosh, think I'll take her to the GP just in case though.

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beachyhead · 14/07/2004 14:32

you get worms so easily, my dd has had them twice in the last year and we're really clean (really).... just the whole family has to take a very small nasty pill and then they go....

mears · 14/07/2004 14:32

Children can get worms from anywhere TBH. The eggs are in dust, on toys at plagroup/nursey. The majority of under 5's have worms at some stage or other of their lives, as many as 70%. Very easy to catch.

Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 14/07/2004 14:56

Ok, I guess I need to get her checked by GP?

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Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 14/07/2004 21:10

Any other advice from anally knowledgeable evening mumsnetters?

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Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 15/07/2004 21:27

Just to briefly revive this thread: I took dd to the GP who confirmed she does have thrush and has given her an anti-fungal cream. I've been applying it for 2 days now and so far it seems to have made the rash worse, does this seem normal?

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Aero · 15/07/2004 21:52

bump - have no answers I'm afraid, but I'd be back to the GP if the cream is having an adverse effect. Hope someone else can help.

Flip · 15/07/2004 22:09

Strangerthanfiction, my ds1 had this a few months back. It went on for nearly six weeks before a simple course of antibiotics cleared it up. It was something called perianal streptococal celulitis

Have a look at this link When you scroll down there is a picture of it. It's not a very good picture. It's a shame I didn't take any of ds1 because when the consultant saw him finally it was on the mend and she wanted a decent picture of it full blown.

Hope this helps. I know what you're going through. Preparation H helped for a short time along with a cream called Trimovate but it's not suitable really for children. Mention this paticular dermatitis to your GP and ask for some Antibiotics just to rule it out. I think the consultant I saw said Eurthramyacin (Sp??)

Flip · 16/07/2004 16:49

bump - just in case you haven't seen this.

Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 16/07/2004 21:09

Thanks a lot for this Flip. I know it's hard to tell from a photo, but I don't think dd's rash looks like that. It's entirely around her anal area and only very slightly spread out onto her buttocks. Today it's looking less inflamed but she's still scratching like crazy. I think I'm going to give it the weekend and see how she is then.

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Flip · 16/07/2004 22:27

Ds1's was just around his anus. After about three weeks it spread out onto his bum cheeks and then it looked almost like burns in clusters. White in the centre and then yellow, then bright red. He was in agony like I said before for six weeks and we had no idea what it was.

If you go back to your GP's, I'd mention this perianal streptococal ceullitis to the GP. If for no other reason than to rule it out. It's one of those things which spreads and goes worse and worse until it's diagnosed and treated. We tried every cream known to man including things which weren't suitable for children like the double strength canistan and preparation H. He was just five years old when it happened and after all the different creams the doctor had given us to try his skin had become so thin that every time he went to the toilet his skin would tear open and he'd be in agony.

It's worth a mention if you take her back. I'd never want any child to suffer the way my ds did. I still feel guilty now wondering if I pushed things enough. Although I did take him three time in the space of week including two out of hours surgery's.

I really hope she feels better. Ds1 responded to Canistan for two days and then it came back angrier than ever. We ended up sedating him during the night because of the pain.

Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 20/07/2004 22:42

Thanks again Flip. I'll take your advice and visit the GP again actually as it's much worse since the weekend. It doesn't sound as nasty as your Ds's rash, it's just an angry pink with small darker red areas like 'spots' but they're not raised in any way. But she's scratching like crazy and not that happy about sitting down now. .

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Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 28/07/2004 11:53

Flip - are you about? I've been thinking a lot about what you mentioned your ds1 had as since I started this thread dd has had 2 lots of anti-fungal cream and now GP has decided it's probably bacterial rather than fungal and given an antibiotic cream as well as sending a swab off to the hospital to be tested. Do you think if she had what your Ds had the swab will show that?

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Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 29/07/2004 14:31

Flip?

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Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 30/07/2004 21:05

Ok, no flip. I wonder if anyone else can help. We're almost a month now with this problem which is, I fear, getting worse daily. Poor dd is scratching herself to pieces and very unhappy about it. From being initially just around her anus, then round her buttocks a bit, it's now spread to her inner thighs and half way up her back! I've seen the GP twice. First time they said a fungal infection but the cream did nothing. Second time they said a bacterial infection and the cream's helped in some areas but it still keeps spreading to others. It's basically very red skin with little dark red raised spots here and there.

Dd's been in tears of frustration raking at her skin all day. Being so hot doesn't help matters. If anyone has any ideas about this at all I'd so appreciate it ...

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mckenzie · 30/07/2004 21:23

on a food related reality tv show recently, one of the participants was eating too much white bread and the professional nutritionist said to her "I bet you have an itchy anus".

Apparently (please dont ask me why as although they explained it at the time I dont remember) it can affect a lot of people that way.

JuA · 30/07/2004 21:31

A swab will show up if there is any bacterial infection and also which antibiotics will be needed to clear it up - have you been told when you will have the results??
Also what about giving her piriton for the itching because if she is scratching that is probably helping to spread it further so if you can reduce the amount of scratching you may see an improvement anyway. HTH

Piffleoffagus · 30/07/2004 21:34

I know nothing about the actual diagnosis or condition but by the sound of the inflammation etc, for burn type blisters itching and rashes, brewed chamomile tea has brilliant soothing qualities, worth a try to alleviate some of the worse symptoms hopefully, no harm to try it...?

Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 30/07/2004 21:50

oh mckenzie it's so far from being an itchy anus now it looks really awful and as I said has yesterday and today spread half way up her back. anyway, she doesn't eat white bread .

JuA, the GP said to call today for the results but the receptionist said they weren't back yet and to try again mid next week. Poor dd won't have any skin left by then! I wish I'd taken her sooner now but it was much more minimal in the beginning.

I'll try some chamomile tea piffle. Anything to soothe her. I think her scratching is spreading it and making it worse but y'know toddlers they go for instant satisfaction. If it itches, they want to scratch it.

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Piffleoffagus · 30/07/2004 21:55

it sounds bloody awful STF, wishing her some comfort tonight, I'd go yelling for answers tomorrow... First thing if GP is open...

Rowlers · 30/07/2004 22:05

No advice really other than don't wait till mid-way through next week. Last time my GP referred me to a clinic at my local hospital, I heard nothing for a week, so phoned the clinic who had never received a referral from my GP. Had to phone the GP and force them to fax a letter to the clinic etc etc. GP blamed it on the post. The receptionists don't know how bad it is for your poor DD. Get them to phone up to find out where the results are. Make them earn their money!! Hope a happy ending is in sight.

meysey · 30/07/2004 22:14

If it seems to be thrush there are other things you can do. When DS1 was younger we had a really bad time with thrush and no creams from the doctor worked and it was spreading all over. However, this aromatherapy recipe from a book on children did the trick, and we now use it for all scrapes or skin complaints. It is very gentle and a friend of mine swears by it for her own thrush, after she tried it.

1 drop tea tree
1 drop lavender
10ml almond oil

However, I agree with other mums who say that worms is the first thing to think of. Though do give any worm treatment when you are at home all day, as it has a laxative effect!

Original poster
strangerthanfiction · 31/07/2004 12:15

Thanks everyone. I did go to the emergency surgery at GP this morning. They don't think it's thrush or worms though I'll try your remedy anyway meysey as it can't do any harm I wouldn't have thought. GP still thinks it's a bacterial infection but agreed it's getting worse and is going to chase the results of the swab she sent off on Monday morning so we've got to keep dd all wrapped up in clothes so she can't get at her skin to scratch. I wish it wasn't such a sunny weekend to have to do that to her. . Anyway hopefully we'll know more on Monday.

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