Infant rectal prolapse occurs when the rectum exits the anus and can be seen as a red, damp, tube-shaped tissue. This situation is more common in children up to 4 years of age due to the fact that the muscles and ligaments that support the final part of the intestine, the rectum, are in formation and are not yet strongly attached to the abdominal wall.
Thus, during the child's development, the walls of the rectum are loose and without fixation, causing the prolapse of the rectum to happen, especially if the child has frequent diarrhea.
Other possible causes of rectal prolapse in children may be constipation with very hard and dry stools, with an effort to evacuate, malnutrition, dehydration and infection by parasites such as amebiasis or giardiasis, for example.
Causes of infantile rectal prolapse
Infant rectal prolapse can happen between 1 and 4 years of age, is more common in boys than in girls and can happen due to several situations, the main ones being:
- Constipation with very hard and dry stools; Excessive effort to evacuate; Decreased or weak muscle strength of the anus; Malnutrition; Dehydration; Parasitic infection; Cystic fibrosis; Inflammatory bowel disease.
Infant rectal prolapse can be identified by the pediatrician or by the coloproctologist based on the observation of the presence of dark red tissue in the form of a tube outside the anus. In addition, it is possible to check the presence of blood in the stools, abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel habits, for example. Here's how to identify rectal prolapse.
How is the treatment
In most cases, infantile rectal prolapse resolves spontaneously as the child grows and the muscles and bones in the region are strengthened and are able to support the rectum. Thus, in general, infantile rectal prolapse does not require treatment, and pediatric monitoring is recommended.
However, when the prolapse does not naturally regress, it is extensive and causes a lot of discomfort in the child, it may be necessary to insert the rectum manually by the doctor or, in more severe cases, through surgery. Understand how treatment is done for rectal prolapse.
