What are anal fissures and fistulas?
An anal fissure may be a tear within the lining of the anus or the skin around it. An anal fistula is an abnormal track or channel from the anus that opens onto the skin surrounding the anus.
What causes anal fissures and fistulas and who is at risk?
Frequently, no cause is found for the event of an anal fissure. the foremost commonly associated condition is constipation.
Anal fistulas are related to variety of conditions that end in inflammation of the alimentary canal . These include colitis and regional enteritis (see separate Factsheet). More commonly, however, fistulas are caused by infection and abscess (collection of pus) in one among the glands almost the anus. Multiple anal fissures can also be related to these conditions.
What are the common symptoms and complications of anal fissures and fistulas? Sudden and severe pain in or round the anus is that the characteristic symptom of an anal fissure. The pain often occurs during or shortly after the passage of a tough stool, but can also occur spontaneously.
After that, the pain occurs now then and is severe, sharp and sometimes shooting in nature; it's often made worse by a movement . As a result, sufferers often avoid opening their bowels, which makes the constipation worse and prevents the fissure from healing. The condition is usually related to something called a 'sentinel pile'. This pile, or haemorrhoid, may be a small vein that has dropped down from inside the anus to lie outside. it's going to bleed from time to time and a streak of bright red blood on the rest room paper could also be seen.
Anal fistula is most ordinarily related to an abscess near the anus, which provides rise to pain in or round the anus which will be dull and throbbing. The abscess releases pus, which can be blood-stained and soil the underclothes. The formation of a fistula leads to the usually continuous seepage of pus or sometimes a more thin and watery fluid, again often streaked with blood, from the anus. If the underlying abscess is large enough it's going to cause a fever and a sense of being generally unwell.
If a fistula has been caused by an inflammatory bowel disease, like colitis or regional enteritis , other symptoms of the disease could also be present. These may include diarrhea, abdominal pains, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea and vomiting.
What is the treatment for anal fissures and fistulas?
Self-care action plan
Avoiding constipation by eating a diet rich in fibre (including many fruit and vegetables) helps to stop anal fissures from occurring. Such a diet also helps the healing process.
Medicines
If diet alone is insufficient to regulate constipation, variety of medicines are often used, many of which are available as over-the-counter preparations from a pharmacist with no need for a prescription. These include lactulose, taken as a liquid, and tablets like senna. Creams or ointments that contain pain-killing local anesthetic agents are very useful at relieving the pain of anal fissures. Relief of the pain reduces the spasm within the muscles of the anus, which frequently prevents the fissure from healing.
Surgery
If all the above measures fail, a spread of operations is out there for the treatment of anal fissures. These include stretching of the anus, which is administered under general anesthetic (during which you'll be asleep) and although normally performed as each day case, may require you to remain in hospital overnight. This procedure leads to temporary weakening of the muscles round the anus, relieving the spasm and allowing healing to occur. Alternatively, a 'sphincterotomy' could also be performed. This, again, is administered under a general anesthetic and involves cutting a number of the muscle fibres round the anus. A chronic (long-term) fissure that doesn't answer the above treatments often has got to be cut out then sewn up with stitches.
If an abscess is that the explanation for an anal fistula, it can only be treated surgically. The operation involves cutting into the abscess and draining the pus. If a fistula is present it'll also got to be tackled surgically. This operation involves cutting into the fistula and 'laying it open' to permit healing to occur. this may involve a stay in hospital.
More rarely, when the fistula is caused by an associated disease of the bowel, the actual disease often also requires specific treatment. this might involve taking steroid tablets to scale back the inflammation but if severe, surgery can also be required.
If you are doing have an operation for an anal fissure or fistula, you'll tend instructions on what to try to to once you get home. this is often likely to incorporate information about the importance of getting a daily bath, the way to avoid constipation, and once you should return to the doctor for a follow-up.
Complementary therapy
Relaxation therapy, the Alexander technique, yoga and tai-chi may help to alleviate the strain and therefore the underlying increase in muscle tension related to the pain of an anal fissure, and should help to market healing. These techniques can also promote a way of well-being, which can be useful in such chronic painful conditions.
What is the result of anal fissures and fistulas?
Anal fissure is typically harmless and heals on its own, although it are often a really painful condition. Complete recovery is common , and sometimes occurs spontaneously; only rarely is surgery required.
Anal fistula, although rarely a significant condition, often requires surgery , but again complete recovery is common
Fissure and Fistula
Reviewed by newsanddailyupdates
on
July 13, 2020
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