What Are Anal Fissures?
A fissure is a small crack in the anus that is caused by frequent straining during bowel movement. It can bleed and spasm. More often than not it can be quite painful. They can affect people of all genders and ages, but they are rampant in infants. Those who suffer from constipation are at high risk of getting anal fissures.
What Causes Anal Fissures?
The chief cause of anal fissures is straining in the lining of the anus. This can be cause due to a number of factors such as:
- Chronic constipation
- Passing dry, hard stools
- Rough or excessive wiping of the anus after passing a motion
- Diarrhea (overuse of the sphincter muscle)
- Inflammation of the anus and rectum
- Scratching (as a reaction to pinworm infection, etc.)
- Anal injury
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Cancer of the rectum
Determining the root cause of anal fissure is crucial to ensure a better management plan so that you can minimize the risk of it occurring again. If you have any of the conditions mentioned above but don’t have fissures yet, you may start a high-fiber diet to mitigate the risk.
What Are The Symptoms Of Anal Fissures?
If you doubt that you might have anal fissure, look out for the following symptoms:
- Anal pain while sitting
- Pain when passing a bowel motion and for some time afterward
- Bright red blood from the anus
- Blood on the surface of stools
- Blood smears on the toilet paper
If you experience any of these, consult your gastroenterologist immediately. They will perform a physical examination and a few imaging tests to check if you have an anal fissure and give you the correct diagnosis.
How Are Anal Fissures Treated?
Oftentimes, anal fissures go undetected and heal on their own. However, if you seek medical care, here are your treatment options:
Non-surgical: For mild and moderate fissures, the treatment course includes oral and topical painkillers and some laxatives to ease your bowel movements. This gives the fissures a chance to heal by itself. Doctors also recommend Sitz baths to soothe, cleanse, and disinfect the area thoroughly. If there is no improvement in condition, botox injections, a form of neurotoxin, can be used to temporarily relax the sphincter muscles. This will give you some comfort and allow the fissure to heal over time.
Surgical: If your fissure is severe or not responding to other treatments, it can be cured with lateral internal sphincterotomy. During this procedure, a surgeon will first administer local anesthesia to keep you comfortable. Then he will make a small incision in the internal anal sphincter muscle to reduce the pressure on the fissure and promote healing. It is highly effective in giving relief from the symptoms and eventually closing up the fissure. You will be advised to take Sitz baths and a course of medicine to ensure infection-free and pain-free recovery.
How Can You Prevent Anal Fissures From Recurring?
- Consume a high-fiber diet consisting of whole foods and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid hardening the stools.
- Avoid spicy food, alcohol, high-caffeine foods, and anything else that irritates your system.
- Avoid straining during your bowel movements.
- If you feel like you need to strain frequently to pass stools, take warm sitz baths to soothe the area and prompt healing of micro-tears, if any.
- Clean the area gently but thoroughly.
- Use doctor-prescribe fiber supplements or stool softeners if you have chronic dry stool.
