RT Journal
A1 GRAND RJ
T1 PErirectal abscess
JF American Journal of Diseases of Children
JO American Journal of Diseases of Children
YR 1979
FD November 1
VO 133
IS 11
SP 1203
OP 1203
DO 10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130110111029
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1979.02130110111029
AB Sir.—I have just seen the article entitled "Perirectal Abscess in Childhood" that appeared recently in the Journal (133:411-412, 1979). Although I would agree with the interpretation and findings given for infants, our experience with perianal abscess in the older child is somewhat different.When perianal abscess occurs in patients older than 5 years of age, a thorough search should be made for the presence of chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Perianal disease is much more likely to be a sign of Crohn's disease than of ulcerative colitis1 and may precede the onset of other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms or occur independently when GI symptoms have subsided. Unlike perianal abscess at another age, these tend to be indolent, to heal poorly after surgical drainage, and often to be associated with enterocutaneous fistulas particularly from the rectum to the skin surrounding the anus. Young children have a lower incidence of this complication