What is the small split on ds's perineum, and how do we treat it?

[EBAB]

I've recently noticed when wiping his bottom that ds, three, has a split extending from his anus a little way along his perineum. It's maybe about 1cm long. It doesn't bleed, but is a little red/raw-looking. Occasionally, he says his bottom is itchy, but not very often. And he eats a largely healthy diet and does two or three healthy poos a day; he is never constipated. Does anyone know what this split might be caused by, and how to treat it? I'm wondering if it's something fungal. Hmm.

Grateful for any ideas. Thanks

Could it be a fisher? (sp) which is a tear. 1cm strikes me as being quite big. It must be painful. Maybe you should go to the Dr.

Whoa! You need to get him to the Dr before it does get infected. How did he manage to do this?

I think gn means a fissure - one of my dc used to get this quite a lot. I found that a decent nappy rash cream - like Metanium or Morhulin - usually resolved it. If that doesn't work ou might need a bit of Timodine on prescription.

Thanks, ginger. Bizarrely, it doesn't seem to be causing ds any pain; just the occasional itch - very occasional (not every day). Yes, maybe we should pop to the doctor's. Good thinking.

Geekgirl, you are quite correct with your fissure spelling and that is what I meant.

Thanks, geekgirl and Rhubarb. Cream option sounds like a plan, too. Rhubarb, I don't think it's something ds has managed to "do", as it were. It's not like a cut or wound; just a very neat split along the perineal line. He doesn't strain for poos, and doesn't fiddle down there (well, only at the front ), which is why I was wondering if it's only cause could be fungal. Is a fissure fungal? Will Google. Thanks again.

Well, just to give you a slightly different opinion, my 3 yr old ds has always had what looks like a tear in the place you describe, maybe only 1/2 a cm though. It does not looks sore, doesn't bleed and doesn't appear to bother him, it has just always been there, like the skin never finished knitting itself together before he was born.

I am guess from your post that this is not something that has always been there though. A good barrier cream should keep it free from infection, at the first signs, definately see a dr.

Thanks, Heartmum. Well, I don't know for sure if it's always been there. I don't remember seeing it before. I wonder if, since ds has been using the loo, I've been noticing it due to wiping from a different angle. But like your ds's, my ds doesn't seem bothered by his split, it doesn't hurt, bleed, weep. It is just as you describe your ds's to be. I looked up some anal fissures on Google Images (lovely!), and am half-convinced it could be one. But the cause, in children at least, is almost always straining to pass a bowel movement, and ds has never been the constipated/hard poo type. Hmm.

Thanks for responding, and I'll keep an eye.

EBAB