Toddler screaming saying his bum hurts? Help?

[Hullabaloo23]

3 year old has been screaming all morning saying his bum hurts and clutching his bum. We’ve recently potty trained and have had some issues with withholding but the longest he’s gone without going is 2 days and his stools are still soft.

I know threadworms can cause little ones to feel pain but I haven’t seen any around his bum or in his poo and I thought the pain/itching was normally at night but he’s spent all morning writhing around screaming?

I don’t know if it’s because he’s got trapped wind, needs a poo, constipation or if it could be worms? Or if he could have a small tear? But I don’t know if that could cause screaming and distress when just sat on the sofa.

Of course this happens on a bank holiday so can’t go to GP and I know 111 will send us to A&E.

Any advice?

My DC managed to get a fungal infection there once. It looked like a popped blister. Have you had a good look? He could have a tear as well. The pharmacist might be able to suggest something to use until you can see the GP.

There should be a pharmacy open covering the bank Holiday somewhere near you, might be worth a visit for advice. Also 111 won't necessarily send you to A&E, there should be an out of hours GP service or minor injuries treatment centre hopefully.

Otherwise have you tried sudocrem around the area and calpol? If it's trapped wind, try infacol as well.

I would cover his bottom in sudocreme and see what happens next. He is likely needing the toilet and has constipation that is causing pressure.

@ButterButterBattle Ive had a look and there’s potentially a sore bit just inside his bum hole but it’s hard to tell.

@MissyB1 @DrummingMousWife I’ve put sudocreme on and given some Calpol and I’m not sure if they’ve helped.

The thing that keeps making me wonder if it’s worms is he keeps grabbing his bum and says “ouchy”. Panicking if it is as I’m pregnant so can’t take the medication. Would you always be able to see the worms if it’s threadworms?

Also the discomfort started yesterday when it seemed like he needed to poo. He did a poo and seemed very distressed just before and whilst he did it. Then he continued to say “ouchy” intermittently throughout the day whilst holding his bum, even after the poo (which was big but soft). I thought maybe he needed another poo and he had a couple of goes but didn’t do another one. Then this morning the discomfort escalated to screaming. I’m so baffled.

Maybe a fissure if he’s been withholding - caused by size as opposed to softness. Fissures are excruciating and sting even when not going to the toilet.