Symptomatic children tend to be particularly colicky babies, because of the discomfort associated with the stool backing up. The stool may exit under pressure and look almost like a squirt gun. Treatment of this disorder usually involves gentle dilation of the anal opening This is typically done twice a day. Every week a slightly larger lubricated dilator is passed to stretch the anus until it reaches normal size. In very mild cases, softening the stool may be sufficient until the anus grows sufficiently.
Suppositories can make the child comfortable in the short run, but do run the risk of dependence.
At around 4 months apple or even prune juice may help the child to pass stool. Rarely surgery is needed to insure an opening of adequate caliber. If this is an isolated anomaly the prognosis is excellent. Some children are born with no anal opening at all. This is called an imperforate anus.