title: Anal lesions presenting in a cohort of child gastroenterological examinations. Implications for sexual traumatic injuries.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the anal lesions found in children during a pediatric gastroenterology consultation when the reason for the complaint was related to a digestive disease. This prospective descriptive study included 100 children under 15 years of age over a 13-month period, consulting due to digestive symptoms. The children were under 8 years old (90%) and 25% were under 3.1 years old. Constipation was the most frequent reason for consultation (69%). Fifty-one anal lesions were observed, of which 58.8% were anal fissures, 15.7% were skin tags and 5.8% were venous congestions related to straining. Anal fissures and skin tags were located at the median line, according to the clock-face method in supine position. No child had more than two anal lesions. No anal dilatation, sphincter hypotonia, anal scars, anal lacerations or bruises were found. The two most common anal lesions were anal fissures and skin tags. These anal lesions were mainly observed at the median line and were due to constipation. No cases of multiple anal lesions were found in terms of common digestive diseases.
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, CHU Angers, 49933 Angers Cedex, France; CHU Angers, Department of Forensic Medicine, 49933 Angers Cedex, France. Electronic address: ClRouge-Maillart@chu-angers.fr.
authors.forename: Clotilde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rougé-Maillart
authors.affiliation: CHU Angers, Department of Forensic Medicine, 49933 Angers Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Sora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houdu
authors.affiliation: CHU Angers, Department of Pedestrian, 49933 Angers Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Darviot
authors.affiliation: CHU Angers, Department of Forensic Medicine, 49933 Angers Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buchaillet
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, CHU Angers, 49933 Angers Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005401:Fissure in Ano / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Anal injuries; Pediatric digestive diseases; Sexual abuse; Traumatic injuries