Hemroids / Hemorrhoids in Child

Contents: Child Hemorrhoids, what they are -- Internal or external child hemorrhoids? -- Causes of child hemorrhoids -- Pinworms can mimick the anal itching of child hemorrhoids -- When to see a doctor about suspect child hemorrhoids -- Particular Difficulties that Child Hemorrhoids pose -- Treatment for Child hemorrhoids - For the immediate relief of hemorrhoids in a child -- The cure of child hemorrhoids -- The cure of infant hemorrhoids -- Hemorrhoids in child - Ending remarks.

Child Hemorrhoids - what they are

While child hemorrhoids are generally not a severe health problem, they are not a common childhood disorder and child hemorrhoids can frequently be both a symptom and a cause of more severe health issues in children.

Hemorrhoids, as we know them, are swollen veins that emerge from and around the hemorrhoidal cushions that help the anal canal to function. When one of the large veins that runs through this area is put under enough strain, the vein wall swells and takes some of the tissue with it.

Internal or external child hemorrhoids?

Whether child or adult, if the hemorrhoid should occur on the inside of the anal canal, above the dentate line, then it is an internal hemorrhoid.

If, however, the swelling vein should start from a point below the dentate line, it is an external hemorrhoid.

The actual opening of the anal canal is called the anal verge, and the dentate line is approximately two centimeters further inside the body from the anal verge.

The reason that this dentate line is important is because it marks the beginning of a large and sensitive band of nerves that help to control the anal sphincter. Because they are nowhere near this band of nerves, internal hemorrhoids don't hurt much, if at all, unless they have prolapsed to the outside.

However, due to location, external hemorrhoids usually hurt like the dickens, and children are even more vulnerable to pain than adults.

Causes of child hemorrhoids

There are many potential causes of child hemorrhoids, ranging from constipation to Crohn's disease, which is a severe disorder of the lower intestinal tract, to simply sitting on the toilet for too long.

While there are quite a few causes that are relatively normal, hemorrhoids in child are still very rare, so it is doubly important to check for more serious problems.

While an adult may know very well that their hemorrhoids and constipation are the result of a bad diet, lack of exercise, and long periods of sitting, children normally do not suffer from these problems.

Children, in fact, are masters at making us adults wonder where the heck they get all of that energy from. An inactive lifestyle, the most common cause of hemorrhoids, is much less of a factor, and so other problems come to the forefront.

One of the more serious causes of child hemorrhoids is called portal hypertension, which means that there is backwards pressure in the portal vein that carries blood from the digestive tract to the liver. Diseases that affect the liver often show their first sign through portal vein hypertension.

Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder, is also a possible cause of childhood hemorrhoids. These issues should be checked for, especially in infants who are unable to express clearly or accurately what hurts.

The most common cause of hemorrhoids in children is constipation, and one of the primary causes of constipation is dehydration.

Children who are dehydrated are children in danger. While dehydration is not good for anyone, due to pedatric anatomy, it works particularly quickly on children, who do not have the sorts of bodily reserves that adults use to cushion themselves against things like dehydration, heatstroke, hypothermia, and so on.

Constipation in children can be diagnosed by hard, dry, clay-like stools, nausea, vomiting, weight-loss liquid in child's underwear indicating backed-up stool in the child's rectum, and the child not wishing to defecate due to pain.

Children are not particularly good at expressing exact causes of internal pain, but look for all over clenching, particularly of the legs and buttocks, rocking up and down on their toes, turning red, and wailing like banshees if a toilet comes into view. Infants may start to cry at the first feeling of having an excretion, anticipating the pain.

Constipation in children is often caused the same as it is in anyone else, by low-fiber diets, insufficient water, and a lack of exercise.

A cause particular to kids is their ability to ignore the urge to defecate until too late because they are distracted or don't want to quit playing, or because they are afraid of repeating a painful experience.

Under no circumstances whatsoever should the child be shamed into going to the toilet, as any shame or scolding will only make the bad associations worse and potentially damage previously successful toilet training.

Another frequent cause of childhood dehydration and hemorrhoids is diarrhea, which is relatively common to childhood ailments.

Diarrhea occurs when material moves too quickly through the large intestine for water to be reabsorbed into the body. Because various enzymes and liquids are added by the body to digest food, if the moisture is not properly reabsorbed, the child can be literally be losing water even if drinking fairly consistently, triggering a bout of constipation on the back end.

In addition, the long times of sitting on the toilet that are usually involved in bouts of diarrhea contribute their own strain leading to hemorrhoids. Whether or not your child has hemorrhoids or not, don't leave them on the toilet when they're not actually going, and give them pediatric electrolytes to drink. Your local doctor or pharmacist can help you pick the best brand in your local area.

Pinworms can mimick the anal itching of child hemorrhoids

Another potential cause of childhood anal itching is pinworms. You'll want to take your child to the doctor to verify that these miserable little parasites are not the problem before deciding what course of treatment to take.

Trying to treat your child for hemorrhoidal itching when he or she has pinworms is both useless and potentially damaging. Hemorrhoidal treatment won't do a thing for pinworms, and these parasites are so contagious that your child could literally have picked them up anywhere.

Pinworms are more difficult to get as adults, but only because adults don't play in mud and dirt as often as kids, which means that they can easily pass to the rest of your family if your child should have brought some home.

When to see a doctor about suspect child hemorrhoids

You should also take your child to the doctor if episodes of constipation last for more than three weeks, your child is unable to participate in their normal activities, small tears start appearing in the skin around the anus, normal pushing is not enough to expel stool, or if your child's anus starts consistently leaking.  Obviously, if lumps appear near or in the anus, a doctor should be soon be very fast.

Particular Difficulties that Child Hemorrhoids pose

When a child does have hemorrhoids, they need to be watched carefully, especially if they are painful or itchy.

Children do not often have the self-control to keep from incessant scratching, which can cause the hemorrhoids to be torn open and bleed.

Scratching open hemorrhoids then leads to rampant infection and painful inflammation. In addition, the pain involved can make the child very cranky, unwilling to use the toilet, unwilling to get off the toilet, and eventually associate an untold number of bad things with toilet training itself.

If constipation is a factor, the seepage or leakage that constipation can bring also carries the potential of infection with it, especially if the child refuses to defecate and tries to ignore the problem.

All in all, it's a very unpleasant situation for all concerned, not least of all the child.

Treatment for Child hemorrhoids - For the immediate relief of hemorrhoids in a child.

It may be helpful to get moistened wipes for your child to wipe with, and your pediatrician or pharmacist may be able to recommend more soothing moisteners than plain water.

Dry toilet paper should be avoided, as the temptation to scratch, rub or scrub with it may become overpowering.

Keep your tiny one clean, dry, and shower on the hugs and affection so that he or she knows this is not the end of the world and your love is constant.

Once a pediatrician has determined that your child does, indeed, have hemorrhoids, there are a number of things you can do to get your little one some immediate relief.

There are no hemorrhoidal creams or ointments currently made for children that are available over the counter, but ibuprofen does come in child and infant doses and may help with both pain and inflammation.

Of course, never give an infant under two years of age anything not recommended by a doctor, but your child's pediatrician can calculate a proper dosage of ibuprofen for your infant based on age and weight if you call and ask.

The reason that a pediatrician has to calculate the dosage is because infant weights are so low and infant metabolisms work differently from that of even older children.

Between these two factors, it takes a degree in calculus to compute the right dosage of any medication for any infant.

Leaving medication aside, warm sitz-baths, given for twenty minutes at a time three times a day often bring great relief.

Oatmeal powder, which can be found at most drug stores, can be added to the sitz bath for extra soothing power.

If the child's itching is bad, plain cornstarch can be dusted over the area and into the child's diaper or underwear.

Some children find that sitting on a towel-wrapped icepack for a few minutes can help with the pain, as well.

Do check and make sure that your child does not have a sensitivity or allergy to the current laundry soap or softeners that you use. If in doubt, purchase a small bottle or two of hypoallergenic laundry detergent and softener, as any irritation that can be banished, should be.

The cure of child hemorrhoids

Once immediate relief has been obtained, hemorrhoids are relatively easy to deal with.

The best treatment for hemorrhoids in anyone, of any age, is to get more fiber from such foods as whole-grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sufficient liquid from sources of water, fruit juice, or milk is very important to avoiding constipation.

While it is important for your child to get enough fiber, never try to cure childhood constipation with enemas or laxatives without a doctor's supervision. Laxatives can quickly and dangerously dehydrate your child.

If your child drinks soda, tea, or coffee, those things will have to go. The caffeine found in them is a drug called a diuretic, which means "to increase urination." Or, in other words, drinks with caffeine in them are actually pulling water out of the body.

In addition, the sugar found in soda doesn't help, either, as it speeds the child's metabolism, and therefore digestion, when regularity is what is most desired.

Exercise may be very beneficial - for a child this means physical playing.

The cure of infant hemorrhoids

If your child is still an infant and not yet eating food, then either breastfeeding or feeding a formula that is not iron-fortified can make all the difference. Iron-fortified or soy formulas can both lead to constipation in infants.

There are quite a few formulas on the market today specificially made for sensitive stomachs or as anti-constipation that can be beneficial.

While mom's milk is best, that isn't an option for everyone, but do try and get as close as you can.

Increased exercise and movement is also beneficial, so going and playing in the sunshine is a good idea, and might even give mom and dad a moment to breathe.

Infants that are not yet walking love to have their arms and legs played with in games like Bicycle, which is where an adult takes the baby's feet in their hands and moves the legs and knees alternating up and down as if the baby were pushing pedals. Chanting silly songs and making goofy faces while doing this is, of course, strictly optional but highly recommended.

Hemorrhoids in child - Ending remarks

When paid attention to and treated promptly, childhood hemorrhoids should clear up on their own.

Due to the unique biology of human children, surgery is not usually an option, as their small bodies do not deal well with the serious bodily shock that accompanies any surgical procedure. However, the incidence of childhood hemorrhoids thrombosing, which means getting a blood clot stuck inside, or prolapsing, which refers to an internal hemorrhoid trying to come outside the body, is thankfully rather small. These two conditions almost demand surgery, but the incidence of these happening to children is close to nothing.

The vast majority of child hemorrhoids go away on their own with the proper diet, and of course, tender loving care.

Research and main write by Loni L. Ice, editing and additional writing by D. S. Urquhart.

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