Today, according to proctologists, they are approached by a lot of people suffering from cracks in the anus. Moreover, this problem is one of the most common in patients of various age groups. Anal fissures can be an independent phenomenon resulting from the action of any traumatic factors. Also, very often this problem is associated with various diseases (disorders in the digestive tract, stomach or duodenal ulcer, hemorrhoids, etc.). We will talk about how to treat the anus fissure. However, I immediately want to draw attention to the fact that in no case should you deal with this ailment on your own, even despite the presence of a mass of folk remedies. After all, only a qualified doctor is able to assess the severity of the disease and prescribe an adequate way to deal with it.
What are anal fissures?
As a rule, there are no problems with making a diagnosis in this case. Symptoms of an anal fissure are easily recognizable, and the doctor can quickly find them even during a quick examination of the patient. As a rule, the length of the crack does not exceed one and a half centimeters. Most often, defects are superficial, but there are also deep injuries that cause serious pain and suffering to people. In most cases, cracks appear in the lower or upper part of the anus. With their occurrence, the epithelium around the anus is damaged and becomes very painful and sensitive. Much less often, cracks can appear on the walls of the anal canal.
Cracks in the anus: symptoms and signs
In the vast majority of cases, the occurrence of such a disease is accompanied by rather painful sensations. Each act of defecation leads to a sharp pain, the result of which is a prolonged spasm of the sphincter. This process only aggravates the course of the disease, as a spasm seriously slows the healing of the crack. Be sure to keep in mind that if you do not see a doctor when the first symptoms appear, then the disease can become chronic. And if in the case of the acute form it is often possible to do only by using a special healing ointment or suppository, then in most cases it is possible to defeat a chronic disease only with the help of surgical intervention.
What is the difference between the chronic stage of the disease and the acute
Before you learn about how to treat an anal fissure, we suggest understanding the forms of this ailment. So, the acute form of the disease is characterized by concomitant pain. It is diagnosed if the crack appeared no more than three weeks ago and has smooth edges without signs of scarring. In this case, cracks in the anus are not very difficult to treat. To do this, use drugs to relieve pain and help accelerate tissue regeneration. The chronic form is diagnosed if the crack appeared in the patient more than a month ago, and the conservative therapy performed was unsuccessful. In this situation, a surgical operation is often performed, during which the crack is excised with a scalpel or laser. The chronic form is very dangerous, as it often leads to complications, and is also accompanied by cicatricial compaction of the edges of the crack and the appearance of the so-called “watchdog tubercle”. One of the most serious consequences of this disease is purulent paraproctitis that occurs as a result of getting into the damaged area of the infection.
Why does this disease occur?
The causes of cracks in the anus can be different. Here are the most common ones:
- Digestive tract diseases: for example, enterocolitis, colitis, duodenal ulcer and stomach ulcer, hemorrhoids and others. By the way, with hemorrhoids, about half of the patients in the second or third stage have anal fissures.
- Constipation and diarrhea. If a person suffers from chronic constipation, sooner or later acts of defecation become more and more traumatic for him. The same applies to diarrhea, which creates a very serious burden on the sphincter.
- Incorrectly performed medical examinations. If procedures such as colonoscopy and anoscopy were unsuccessful, the mucous membrane in the patient's anus may be injured.
- Mechanical injuries (including those caused during anal sex).
- Pregnancy and childbirth. Cracks in the anus often affect women during the period of bearing a child, as well as after childbirth. The reason for this is increased pressure in the pelvic area. In this case, patients require special attention of the doctor, since treatment should be as safe as possible so as not to harm the baby.
Can children get sick?
Most people believe that this problem is the prerogative of adults and old people. However, children can suffer from such a misfortune. And absolutely all ages: from infants to adolescents. But nevertheless, an anal fissure is less common in children than in adults. If nevertheless such a nuisance has happened with your baby, then you should immediately consult a doctor to begin treatment as soon as possible. After all, a disease can go into a chronic stage and lead to serious consequences. Treatment of a crack in the anus in a child should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a doctor. Indeed, when it comes to children, anesthesia plays a very important role. The preparations intended for this should be selected competently in accordance with the age of the child.
How is an anal fissure treated?
If a similar ailment has recently overtaken you, upon examination the doctor in most cases diagnoses an acute form of the disease and prescribes conservative treatment. It involves the use of sedentary baths, wound healing and anti-inflammatory suppositories and ointments. In addition, doctors recommend that patients do light exercises, walk more and, if possible, swim in the pool. Weight lifting should be excluded. In addition, if the patient suffers from constipation, he is recommended to adhere to a certain diet, so as not to cause problems again. So, we offer to understand in more detail than to treat cracks in the anus.
Seated baths
This procedure is prescribed to patients in order to relieve sphincter spasm. On the day, it is recommended to do two or three baths lasting 15-20 minutes. To prepare for the procedure, a solution of potassium permanganate should be added to warm water. Recipes for baths are available in traditional medicine. So, it is recommended to use decoctions of medicinal plants, such as chamomile, calendula and yarrow. These herbs have an antispasmodic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. Baths should be done after each bowel movement, as well as in the morning and evening. After this procedure, it is necessary to blot the area of the anus with a soft cloth, and then use the candles prescribed by the doctor or ointment.
Microclysters
As a rule, they are carried out for two weeks in the evening. To do this, mix sea buckthorn oil and chamomile broth in equal amounts. About 50 ml of this solution is drawn into the syringe and injected into the rectum, where the liquid should be retained as much as possible. In addition to this solution, for microclysters, you can use the following tools:
- decoctions of St. John's wort, chamomile, oak bark, flax seed or sage;
- honey water (a tablespoon of honey is dissolved in half a glass of boiled water);
- little wild rose, sea buckthorn or fish oil;
- Solcoseryl gel (a tube of the drug is dissolved in warm water and inserted into the rectum).
Ointments and candles
Treatment of a crack in the anus is unthinkable without the use of topical preparations. As a rule, in this case, the same candles are used as for the fight against hemorrhoids. They help relieve pain and inflammation, reduce sphincter tension and heal damaged areas of the mucosa. Suppositories must be inserted into the anus after an act of defecation, appropriate hygiene procedures and a warm sitting bath. Two candles are recommended per day, one of which is preferably left inside the rectum at night. Ointments are also widely used. They are recommended to be inserted into the anus by means of a gauze swab soaked in a medicinal product, or use a bandage with a drug bandaged to the anus at the location of the crack. Some doctors advise their patient to use female hygienic tampons for these purposes. In this case, their smallest size should be selected.
Pain relievers
As part of the preparations included in this group, as a rule, there is an analgesic that helps to relieve pain in the anus. Most often, the following medicines are used for this: Anestezol, Betiol with belladonna extract, Salofalk, Ultraprokt, Proctoglivenol, suppositories with calendula or glycerin and ichthyol suppositories.
Anti-inflammatory and wound healing drugs
These drugs help treat cracks in the anus and prevent the development of complications. This group includes the following preparations for rectal administration:
- Candles "Relief" (the drug contains shark liver oil, which has analgesic, hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects).
- Candles with propolis. This tool can be either bought at a pharmacy or prepared independently at home. To do this, grate propolis on a fine grater, mix it with butter and melt in a water bath. Then the mass is poured into molds and sent to the refrigerator for solidification.
- Suppositories with methyluracil. These drugs have a very effective wound healing effect.
- Candles "Natalsid." These suppositories do not contain hormones and other harmful components, so they can be used to treat anal fissures in women both during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
- Candles "Posterisan." The composition of this drug includes inactivated intestinal bacteria and their metabolic products. Thanks to this, the drug helps to increase the body's immune defense and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Rectal candles "Hamamelis". This remedy belongs to the group of homeopathic medicines on a plant basis.
- Candles "Hepatrombin G". This drug helps stop bleeding in the damaged area of the mucosa, and also has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
Antispasmodic drugs
In order to relieve sphincter spasm, patients are prescribed ointments containing nitroglycerin, or suppositories with papaverine. They help to reduce muscle tension, which, in turn, accelerates the healing process of the mucosa.
Surgical intervention
How to treat the anus fissure in the acute stage, we figured it out. But what if the disease becomes chronic? In this case, conservative drug therapy does not bring any results, and the doctor makes a decision about surgery. During the operation, excision of the damaged area is performed. Thanks to this, it is quickly and effectively possible to return the disease to the acute stage, which allows you to continue treatment with conservative methods.
Diet
Both during the acute stage of the disease and in the postoperative period, the patient must pay special attention to his diet. It is necessary to include in the menu dairy products, fruits, vegetables, as well as bran and whole grain bread. In addition, you should drink plenty of fluids.