The cause of hemorrhoids is often said to be a burden on the anus due to constipation, but diarrhea may also be a cause. Anal fissure is also caused by tearing the anal skin (anal epithelium) due to the stimulus of diarrheal stool that rapidly passes through the anus. Also, the anus is an organ with an inner mucosal part and an outer skin part. Diarrheal stool gets into small dent "anal crypt" in a region called the "dentate line" at the boundary, which causes infection with bacteria and purulent inflammation. If it worsens, anal fistula develops.
Symptoms of anal fissure include severe pain and bleeding at the time of a bowel movement. It does not bleed much but cause severe pain whenever stool passes through a wound since sensory nerves that sense pain are on the skin outside the anus (anal epithelium). Also, spasm of the internal sphincter muscle of anus due to pain causes severer pain.
Anal fissure may temporarily occur and cure spontaneously in 4 to 5 days. However, if exacerbation is left untreated or it repeatedly develops, it becomes chronic. This may result in chronic anal fissure which causes ulceration of the skin surface or anal stenosis with narrowing of the a canal. Surgical treatment is required in many patients with chronic anal fissure Note). Thus, try to take care early.
It is effective to warm up the buttocks and promote blood circulation as an emergency treatmenta for pain. Soak the bottom half of your body in a bath to warm the affected area in warm water as the point is to soak in lukewarm water. Also, many drugs for hemorrhoids contain an ingredient that relieves pain. Therefore, pain can be relieved by using them.
Note) Naoki Inatsugi: Journal of the Japan Society of Coloproctology, 58: 825, 2005.
There is a small dent called the anal crypt in the border between the mucosal part and skin part of the anus (dentate line). Bacteria in stool enter this dent and purulent inflammation develops. This is a anal abscess. In the event of diarrhea, liquid stool easily enters into a small dent, which is one of the causes. Symptoms include swelling and pain, and possibly a fever of 38℃–39℃.
When anal abscess progresses and accumulated pus is discharged, the symptom is relieved, but the inside and outside of the anus are connected by a tunnel and pus is always discharged. This is anal fistula. If you develop anal abscess, you cannot cure it by yourself. If you develop these symptoms, please consult a specialist immediately.
When you take care of pain, do not warm the affected area like hemorrhoids (piles) or anal fissure. Symptoms further worsen. Lie down and cool the affected area.
Key points of anal area care to prevent worsening of symptoms or hemorrhoids.
How to select OTC drugs for hemorrhoids: Choose a drug according to the type and location of hemorrhoids
Question to a doctor “About the treatment of anal fissure”
Question to a doctor “About the treatment of anal fistula”
