Different Types of Anus Diseases with Causes like Anal Fissures or Fistula etc

Anus Diseases

Fig. 13: Different Anal Disorders

Various conditions of the anal canal and anus orifice are common nowadays. The anus diseases also affect the anal glands, muscles and sphincters. Such disorders not only disturb the excretory function of your digestive system, but are also the cause of great embarrassment for the victim in social life. Some of the disorders are infectious. The others may be viral or cancerous.

Still there are some that arise due to mechanical reasons. Some of the most frequently occurring ailments of excretory orifice include anal abscesses, anus fistula, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and so on. The diagnostic symptoms of the acute and chronic conditions of anus may include pain, anal itching, intense sensation of burning, bleeding, cramps, anus inflammation, bowel obstruction, release of pus, chills, fever, and so on. The suggestion and application of treatment strategy depends upon the type and severity of the condition.

It may involve medication, diet supplementation, or surgical removal of the infected part. However, if you take preventive measures in advance, it can save you from a lot of trouble and embarrassment. After the onset of the disease, consult your health care provider immediately, so you can save yourself from further hassle.

Here is a brief description of seven different anus diseases with their symptoms and treatments.

Anal Abscesses

The condition of anal abscesses refers to the development of pus near the anus. Mostly, there is a perianal abscess, appearing as a bile-like swelling around the anus. It is warm to touch and red in appearance.



Fig. 14: Different Locations of Anal Abscesses

An anal abscess can be very painful and may require surgery for its treatment. The causes include blockage of the anal gland or a sexually transmitted infection.

Anal Abscesses Symptoms

The frequently occurring symptoms include:

• Development and drainage of pus near the anus.
• Anus pain usually radiating to buttocks.
• Anal itching.
• Formation of lump in the anal area.
• Sensation of anus pain during bowel movements.
• Fever and fatigue.

Treatment

In most of the cases, a surgical method is recommended for the drainage and removal of anal abscesses. For the drainage of pus, the surgeons make an incision near the anus. In case of delay in the treatment, it may lead to fistula formation.

For the treatment of fistula, again there is the need of surgical operation. After the surgery, your healthcare provider may prescribe some medications for pain relief. However, the people with diabetes or an immunity disorder may also need the use of antibiotics.

Anal Fistula

An anal fistula is a small tunnel in the anal region that develops an abnormal connection between the skin and the site of an abscess. It is a painful condition and can lead to bleeding during the passage of stools.



Fig. 15: Fistula Formation in the Human Anus

Fistula formation may occur as a complication of the anal abscess. It may cause persistent drainage or result in the recurrent anal abscesses. Surgery is the only successful treatment measure for fistula.

Anal Fistula Symptoms

The possible symptoms for anal fistula include:

• Constant anus pain which becomes worse on sitting down.
• Swelling, redness and feeling of tenderness around the anus.
• Anal itching and irritation.
• Drainage of pus and anus bleeding.
• Fever and constipation.
• Painful bowel movements.

Treatment

There are usually very rare cases when the condition of anal fistula is healed without a proper treatment. Here, the viable option is that of surgery. However, to determine the best therapy, the doctors need to find out the position of the fistula.

They also need to examine if the fistula is a single channel or branches off in different directions. a general anesthetic is used to carry out surgery and the patient is discharged from the hospital within a day.

Did you ever think why is surgery a better option for fistula treatment? It is because surgical therapy can heal the condition without inflicting a damage to the sphincter muscles. A damage to the sphincter muscles, on the other hand, can result in the loss of bowel control.

Anal Fissures

A shallow tear or ulceration in the tissues along the wall of anal canal is given the name of anal fissure. In addition to irritation in the region, an anal fissure can also trigger a spasm in the anal sphincter. The spasms are very painful and may involve anus bleeding.



Fig. 16: Anal Fissures

The passage of large, hard stools and a secondary complication of anal surgery may be the causes of development of anal fissures. Meanwhile, constipation, repeated use of enema nozzles and multiple pregnancies increase the risk for the onset of this condition. Here enema is a fluid used to clean out the terminal part of the large intestine, especially before a surgical procedure.

Anal Fissures Symptoms

The commonly occurring mild and painful symptoms of the condition include:

• A Sensation of sharp pain.
• Anus burning during or immediately after the bowel movements.
• Discharge of blood with stools.
• Rectal itching and irritation.
• Painful spasms in the anal sphincter region.

Treatment

You can prevent any anal disorders by taking a high-fiber diet, maintaining good hygiene in the anal area and drinking plenty of liquids. However, in case of becoming an unfortunate victim of anal fissures, initially you should wait for some days for the natural healing of the condition.

In case the condition persists, your healthcare provider may advise stool softeners to ease and smoothen the bowel movements. To relieve spasms, nitroglycerin ointment is considered effective. For treating chronic anal fissures, doctors may prescribe local injections of borox. If the anal fissures become persistent or recurrent, the patients may need to go for surgical removal.

Anus Cancer

Several different types of tumors can grow in the anal region. Some of the anus tumors are benign while others are linked with anus cancer. However, sometimes a benign anus tumor may become cancer at the later stage.



Fig. 17: Anal Cancer

Do you know what cancer is in the literal sense? In biology, cancer refers to the uncontrolled growth of cells in any part of the body. Cancer cells crowd out the normal cells and can also spread to other organs of the body.

The chances of anal cancer increase with advancing age. According to a research, more than 80% of the cases are of those people with the age above 60. Meanwhile, as compared to the married men, the rate of anus cancer is six times higher in the single men. An anus infection with human papillomavirus and diseases of immune system, such as AIDS, makes people prone to anal cancer.

Anal Cancer Symptoms

Listed below are some of the symptoms of the anus cancer:

• Irregularity in the bowel habits.
• Appearance of a hard mass or lump near the anus.
• Unusual discharge of liquid from the anal orifice.
• Severe pain in the affected area.
• A sensation of pressure buildup in the anal region.

Treatment

Digital rectal exam, anoscopy and endorectal ultrasound can help in the diagnosis of the condition. Afterwards, biopsy will lead to the confirmation of the disease. For the treatment of anal cancer, doctors use chemotherapy and radiation in combination. Such a treatment measure has been in vogue since 1974. If this therapy does not show positive results, the doctors need to utilize the option of surgery.

Hemorrhoids/Piles

It is one of the very painful anus diseases. The presence of distended varicose veins in the anal region characterizes the condition of hemorrhoids or piles.

The valves in the veins permit only unidirectional flow of blood – back to the heart. However, the weakening of these valves may result in the flow of blood towards wrong direction or its stagnation in veins.



Fig. 18: Anal Piles

In case of hemorrhoids, there occurs engorging of veins with blood in the anus. Though initially painless, the fragile walls of swollen vein may rupture and result in bleeding with stool. Clot formation in the vessels is very painful and may require surgical removal.

Piles Symptoms

Frequently occurring symptoms for piles/hemorrhoids include:

• Bowel movements cause bleeding.
• The appearance of bright red blood on the stool, toilet paper or toilet bowl.
• Itching in the anus.
• Painful bowel movements.
• Mucus coming from the anus.

Treatment

To recommend an appropriate treatment measure, your healthcare provider needs to conduct rectal exam. The doctors may conduct colonoscopy and some other tests to determine the cause of the disease. You can treat the anus hemorrhoids through the use of over-the-counter products and changes in the lifestyle. However, it is better to consult a doctor before using any medicine or ointment.

The Use of high-fiber diet is very helpful in treating the condition. You should also consume plenty of water on daily basis. The option of surgery is also there to remove the swollen veins from the affected area.

Anal Warts

Anus warts are a viral disorder. Are you familiar with its unfamiliar name, ‘condyloma acuminata’? In the beginning, it affects the area inside or around anus and then spreads to genital parts. A wart initially appears as small as the head of a pin. However, the warts may grow much larger to cover the entire anal area.



Fig. 19: Anal Warts

Early stages cause no symptoms. But the advanced stages can give rise to bleeding, itching and discharge of mucus with stools. The causative agent is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that an affected individual may communicate to others through sexual contact. However, it may be transmitted without having anal intercourse.

If there is delay in the diagnosis and start of treatment, it is likely to worsen to become anal cancer. The available curative measures include the application of topical medication. However, depending upon the severity of the condition, your health care provider may also recommend the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze the warts or remove them through surgical therapy.

Anal Warts Symptoms

• The appearance of tiny spots or growths inside and around anal opening.
• Itching in the affected area.
• Bleeding with stools.
• Discharge of mucus.
• Feeling of a mass in anus.
• Tiny growths may become much larger with time.

Treatment

The timely treatment of anus warts is necessary because they can grow larger and multiply. Also persistent warts can increase the risk of anus cancer. Different topical medications are available in the market which can freeze or burn the anus warts or heal them slowly.

In case, topical medications do not work the patients need to undergo surgery. It involves the surgical removal of warts. Here the choice of anesthesia depends on the number and location of the warts that are to be removed. If there is a large number of warts, the surgery may be performed in stages.

Pruritus Ani

Affecting men more commonly than women with a 4:1 ratio, pruritus ani is a common medical problem of anus. From 1% to 5% of individuals in the general population may be suffering from this condition. Literally meaning "itchy anus", it gives rise to a discomforting sensation in the rectal opening, thus triggering a desire in the victim to scratch the affected region. The injury of skin due to scratching makes irritation more intense and widespread.

Scratching also induces the desire to scratch even more. Depending on severity of the condition, pruritus ani can be classified into primary and secondary forms. Referred to as idiopathic, the primary form may appear without an identifiable cause, while in the secondary case, the cause is identifiable and treatable. Because of the unknown causative agent in the majority of the cases, the treatment is not easy.

Taking fibrous foods and use of bowel medications is useful for the thickening and complete evacuation of stool. Maintaining hygiene is very necessary.

The administration of antibiotics can cure infections. Meanwhile, hair dryer can be helpful to keep the skin dry.

Pruritus Ani Symptoms

• Unpleasant sensation around rectal opening, arousing desire in the victim to scratch.
• Development of red spots.
• Leakage of mucus with stools.
• Loose stools.
• Injury resulting from scratching.
• Cracks, wounds and thickening of skin.

Treatment

The first step to relieve the symptoms of pruritus ani is to avoid the contact of anus with heat, wool, moisture and pressure.

To suggest an appropriate treatment measure, your doctor needs to discover the underlying cause.

The causes include different skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, lichen sclerosis, allergic dermatitis, and so on.

For treatment, different topical medications, such as steroid and antifungal creams, may be very effective.

Meanwhile, your healthcare provider may prescribe certain antibiotics to treat infection of the anus, if any.