Imperforate anus, delayed presentation in a 7-year-old girl

Abstract

Most of the cases of imperforate anus should be discovered at birth, during the initial physical examination. This case represents the status of Third World rural perinatal care, wherein delivery of an infant by a midwife in poverty stricken area of mountainous Jipijapa, Ecuador, failed to reveal the anomaly during the cursory examination. Moreover, the cultural taboos of the Jipijapan agricultural community further delayed the diagnosis. A 7-year-old girl with imperforate anus presenting with a rectovaginal fistula is reported. Specific findings in the case, therapy, and an approach to the diagnosis are discussed.