A 4-year-old boy is brought to the paediatric clinic by his parents due to a 2-day history of pain around his rectum and difficulty sitting. The parents report that he has been irritable, refusing to sit down, and has cried during bowel movements. They also mention he had a mild fever the night before. Upon inspection at home, they noticed redness and some swelling near his anus.

On physical examination, the child is uncomfortable and visibly distressed. There is a tender, swollen, and reddened area near the anus, with noticeable warmth. No purulent drainage is observed at the time, but the swelling is firm and appears to be worsening. The diagnosis of an anorectal abscess is made, likely resulting from a small infection of a gland near the anus.

The child is referred to a paediatric surgeon for incision and drainage of the abscess under light anaesthesia to relieve the pain and clear the infection. After the procedure, a small dressing is applied to the area, and the parents are instructed on wound care. A course of antibiotics is prescribed to prevent any further spread of the infection. The boy is expected to make a full recovery, and follow-up is arranged to monitor healing and ensure no complications, such as fistula formation, develop.