What is an Anal Fissure?

An anal fissure tends to panic people...

Don’t you just freak out when you clean yourself after a poop and see blood on the tissue paper? Blood in stool or on tissue paper after defecation is often a cause of worry among individuals. As medicine has presented it as associated with grave diseases such as cancer, many people jump into panic conclusions upon experiencing this symptom.

A fissure is a tear or a crack in the lining of the anal canal that causes pain or itching during bowel movement. Also known as fissure-in-ano, it causes the bright red bleeding that comes with defecation or that the person sees on the tissue paper.

Many factors can cause these fissures:

• repeated diarrhea
• straining
• anal sex
• childbirth

All these factors are culprits to the development of fissures. Also, the passing of large, hard stool as in constipation stretches the anal mucosa beyond its capability causing injury. Constant use of wipes or toilet paper during diarrhea irritates the skin and adds to the already inflamed anal canal.

Anal fissures can present as shallow or superficial cuts and usually heal spontaneously, even without medical intervention.

Home treatment remedies are available to help heal fissures. Some customary treatments include:

• sitz baths (soaking the anal area in a tub of warm water several time a day) to aid in the healing process
• good anal hygiene
• topical anesthetics and hydrocortisone preparation
• a diet high in fiber and the use of stool softeners during constipation aids in preventing tearing of the skin from straining.

These fissures usually heal in a couple of days or a few weeks. However, an anal fissure that does not heal within 6 weeks or more is considered chronic. This is when medical attention is needed as fecal bacteria may infect these deep fissures.

Prescribed medications may help in healing or else surgery may be indicated. In recent study, it is found that botulinum toxin and topical nitrates reduces pressure in the anal area. Blood flow is improved, increasing fissure healing to up to 80%. People with chronic anal fissure problems may undergo surgery to reduce sphincter tone.

Fissures can affect people of all ages, the young and old, and is equally common in men and women. It is therefore important to be educated about what causes a fissure, what the signs and symptoms are and ways to prevent it.

Adults are advised to avoid straining during defecation.

Helpful tips to prevent constipation are:

• increasing dietary fiber
• drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day
• the use of stool softener when constipated

Good hygiene and conscious care after defecation is also important, especially during bouts of diarrhea. Use soft tissue paper or clean the anus with water to minimize irritation and injury to the anal mucosa. For infants, it is advised to change soiled diapers frequently to avoid the formation of fissures.

An anal fissure may not pose a deep problem but it should be heeded. Bleeding should be taken seriously as it may be a symptom to a grave health problem. It is wise then to seek medical counsel when these symptoms are experienced. A visit to a general practitioner, a gynecologist or a proctologist would help in ruling out other related diseases such as anal cancer.

Return from Anal Fissure to HemorrhoidsEliminator.com