[Pyogenic periproctitis infections in childhood].

A total of 128 pediatric pyogenic perianal infections were recorded prospectively in 1984-1995; over 70% arose in children below the age of 2 years. A quarter of all perianal abscesses developed a recurrence between 3 weeks and 3 years after the initial operation, while five children had an anal fistula after deroofing of anal abscesses. The early age of onset and frequent anomaly of anal crypts (12%) suggests a partly congenital etiology due to impaired fusion of the proctodaeal membrane or rudimentary anorectal duplications for both conditions.