Perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano in children: Aetiology, management and outcome

Aim: We aimed to assess our experience in treatment and outcome of perianal abscess and/or fistula‐in‐ano in children. Method: The patients who were treated for perianal abscess and/or fistula‐in‐ano from January 2000 to December 2005 were included. Age, sex, duration of symptoms, number and site of the perianal abscess and/or fistula‐in‐ano, treatment modality and recurrences were recorded. Results: The study consisted of 39 patients (36 boys) with a mean age of 29 ± 49.1 months. At first examination the diagnosis was perianal abscess in 20 patients, perianal abscess with fistula in five patients and fistula‐in‐ano in 14 patients. No patients had an underlying illness. The primary local treatment of perianal abscess with or without fistula was incision and drainage (with or without antibiotic therapy) in 21 patients, and local care with antibiotic therapy was given to four patients. Of 20 patients with perianal abscess, 17 developed fistula‐in‐ano and three healed. One patient in the perianal abscess group who developed fistula‐in‐ano and two patients in the fistula group were lost to follow‐up. Thirty‐three patients with fistula‐in‐ano underwent surgical treatment either through a fistulotomy or through a fistulectomy. Five (15.1%) patients who experienced recurrent fistula‐in‐ano underwent fistulotomy were completely cured after the second operation. Conclusion: Treatment of a perianal abscess either through incision and drainage with antibiotics or through antibiotics alone resulted in a high rate (85%) of fistula formation. Fistula‐in‐ano can be treated either by fistulotomy or by fistulectomy, both of which are associated with a reasonable chance of recurrence of fistula‐in‐ano formation. We obtained good results in our patients through surgical approach (fistulotomy or fistulectomy), for fistula‐in‐ano formed following treatment of perianal abscess.