One common anorectal condition is an anal fistula. A fistula develops in around half of the people with an infected anal gland. Subsequently, seventy-five percent of anal fistulas are caused by an infected gland that produces an abscess, a pocket of pus that has to drain. In this blog explain the causes of anal fistula and its symptoms in detail.
What is an anal fistula?
The anus is the terminal portion of the large intestine, where food waste exits your body after finishing its passage through your digestive system. An abnormal opening from the inside of your anus to the skin outside is called an anal fistula. The discharge of an infected anal gland tends to be the cause of a fistula. A perianal fistula is another name for an anal fistula.
Anal fistulas look like a skin hole around the anus. The hole is the outermost section of the tunnel that leads to the internal abscess. Furthermore, it could release a discharge that resembles pus, blood, or feces when you touch the area nearby.
What causes anal fistula
An infection that originates in the anal gland is the main cause of anal fistulas. The other causes of anal fistulas include
*Sexually transmitted infection
*A severe wound or prior surgery to your anus.
*Anus affected by tuberculosis.
*Radiation therapy for pelvic cancer.
*Chronic inflammatory skin illness called hidradenitis suppurativa can cause abscesses in your sweat glands and sometimes in your perianal area.
*Sometimes in the perianal area, bacterial infection results in abscesses(Actinomycosis)
Symptoms
These are the most common symptoms of an anal fistula:
*Anal pain that is often acute and throbbing when you sit, cough, or defecate
*Redness and swelling (inflammation) in or near your anus.
*The skin around the anus has a hole in it.
*Pus, blood, or feces coming out of the tunnel’s opening. Moreover, it might be smelling.
*Fever
*Difficulty in controlling your feces
What distinguishes an anal fistula from an anal fissure?
A split or tear in the anal canal lining is called an anal fissure. Unlike a fistula, it does not tunnel through your anal wall to reach your skin. An anal fistula, however, could arise from an anal fissure. Moreover, an anal fistula may result from the draining of an abscess that develops from an infected anal fissure.
To conclude
Severe anal pain can have a devastating impact on one’s physical and mental health. Thus, speak openly and honestly with your doctor about your problems. In the end, with the help of this blog explain the causes of anal fistula and its symptoms and get rid of this condition with proper and timely medical treatment.
