Hemorrhoids typically develop as a result of inflammation in the hemorrhoids, which naturally seal the rectum and prevent feces from overflowing. Most people get hemorrhoids after age 20, but they can also happen to children and even babies. Hemorrhoids cause pain and bleeding from the rectum. This is why children and their parents usually worry a lot about them. Why do kids get them, and what can be done about them?
Childhood hemorrhoids: causes
Hemorrhoids in children are rare. Their causes are most often:
- sitting on hard surfaces
- constipation in children ,
- straining during defecation,
- sitting on the potty for too long (leads to the accumulation of more blood in the pelvic area, which promotes the formation of hemorrhoids),
- improper diet (too little water, fruit and vegetables),
- sedentary lifestyle,
- inflammatory bowel disease ,
- tendency inherited from parents.
Additionally, a child’s frequent and intense rage or tensing can increase the pressure in the abdomen, which in turn causes the development of hemorrhoids in kids.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids in children
When hemorrhoids are inflamed, they swell, get clogged, and sometimes bleed. There is pain, burning, and trouble sitting or falling asleep. Small children who can’t yet tell what’s wrong with them may react by crying, getting angry, or being restless. This is why parents need to be careful.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids in children include:
- pain,
- burning and itching of the anus ,
- rectal bleeding ,
- bright red streaks of blood in the stool
- mucus discharge from the anus,
- crying during defecation
- hard, dry stools.
Varicose veins in children can be hidden in the anal canal, where they are called “internal hemorrhoids,” or they can be seen as small red or blue bumps at the anus (so-called external hemorrhoids). If the illness isn’t taken care of quickly, the child will also be scared to go to the bathroom. This can cause more constipation, perianal fissures (painful cracks in the anal mucosa), bowel movements that don’t go all the way through, fever, and even feces that come back up. As hemorrhoids get worse, they can make it hard to walk or even sit down.
Children’s hemorrhoids: how to identify them
If you think your child has hemorrhoids, you should call your child’s pediatrician. A doctor can make a diagnosis by looking at a person’s body and hearing about their health. In some cases, a colonoscopy needs to be done on the child. The specialist needs to think about whether or not your child’s symptoms are caused by something other than hemorrhoids. Children with rectal polyps, anal fissures, warts, or other growths may think they have hemorrhoids.
Taking care of children’s hemorrhoids
We need to act comprehensively. In the emergency treatment of hemorrhoids in children, the following are used:
- chamomile or oak bark infusions (also check out other home remedies for hemorrhoids ),
- suppositories and ointments that relieve inflammation, and at the same time pain and itching of the anus (check the leaflet if they can be used in children)
- remedies for constipation for children , which facilitate defecation,
- frequent hygiene around the anus and the use of special preparations for intimate hygiene of the anus, which remove and regenerate skin irritation.
Long-term treatment for hemorrhoids in children is based on making sure they eat well, stay active, and have good bowel habits. Doctors say that you should get your child in the habit of going to the bathroom at the same time every day.
Hemorrhoids in children and diet
Diet is essential for preventing hemorrhoids in children. It should include a high-residue diet, elimination of sugar and sweets, avoidance of carbohydrates and fats, eating meals regularly, increasing the amount of drinking, and increasing the amount of movement to speed up intestinal peristalsis. These rules should be followed to prevent hemorrhoids in children.
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