Proctological diseases often have very pronounced symptoms. All due to the fact that quite a lot of nerve endings are concentrated in the intestines and anus. Such pathologies do not allow a person to lead a familiar lifestyle. People are doing their best to get rid of the manifestations of the disease. Sometimes it works out well. However, it is worth recalling that the elimination of symptoms is not the main goal of treatment, because the problem still remains with the patient.
In the article, we consider the symptoms of anal fissures. You will learn about the varieties of this pathology and the methods for its diagnosis. After reading the article, you will be able to answer the question of what causes anal fissures in an adult, than to treat them. It is also worth talking about the course of the disease in children.
What is an anal fissure?
Symptoms of pathology in each person can be different. It all depends on the pain threshold and the size of the damage. Before you get acquainted with the main manifestations, it is worth saying a few words about this disease.
An anal fissure is damage (discrepancy) in the mucous membrane of the anus. However, it usually does not occur inside the intestine, but outside - at the anus. A crack is a depression having a length of about one and a half centimeters. The distance between its edges can reach one centimeter. Depth is usually measured in a few millimeters. Despite the relatively small size, damage gives a person great discomfort. The bottom of the anal fissure is muscle fibers. The gap may be longitudinal or oval. It is worth noting that over time, the anal fissure becomes wider. Symptoms of the disease become more pronounced.
Types of mucosal damage
Anal fissure has different symptoms. Much depends on its type. The most pronounced manifestations of the disease in acute course. This is because for the first time, people experience such discomfort. However, chronic damage is much more dangerous. A qualified proctologist can determine what exactly you are dealing with.
The age of the scar is always taken into account. Chronic anal fissure symptoms have the following: prolonged (more than 1-2 months) location at the indicated location. If we are talking about the acute course of the pathology, then the wound usually heals on 20-30 days. This is the main difference in damage. You can also determine the type of scar during the examination. In this case, an acute anal fissure is characterized by smooth, clear contours. Chronic damage is lined with a coarsened tissue on which the so-called tubercles form. It is worth saying that the symptoms of anal fissures are very unpleasant. Some patients are even forced to leave on sick leave due to such an ailment, since pain does not allow them to live and work normally.
Manifestations of pathology
Many symptoms of anal fissures are known to medicine. However, this does not mean that they should all be with the patient. Also, people all have different powers of observation and sensitivity. That is why the manifestation of pathology can vary:
- Symptoms of anal fissures are always painful. Without this sensation, no damage has yet been diagnosed. Due to the fact that there is a mass of nerve endings in the anal sphincter, damage to the mucous membrane is always felt very sharply. This symptom occurs more often towards the end or immediately after defecation. All due to the fact that feces irritate the surface of the intestine and the nerve endings located on it.
- Blood after defecation. Anal fissure in children often has such symptoms. If the child does not talk about pain in the back hike, then the parent will probably notice the baby's bleeding on toilet paper. Adult patients may also have this symptom. However, not everyone notices him. Drops of blood can be present not only on hygiene products, but also on the waste itself.
- Acute anal fissure in children may have burning and itching symptoms. As a rule, in the chronic course of the process, the condition is significantly aggravated, and the child simply can no longer remain silent about the problem. If you notice that the baby is constantly trying to scratch the anus, then you should definitely make sure that this is not a crack. The transition from acute to chronic can be quite dangerous. Recall that itching and burning in the area of the sphincter may have other causes.
- Chronic anal fissure symptoms often have well-established symptoms. So, the patient eventually becomes afraid of a banal bowel movement due to the expectation of pain. At the same time, the longer a person suffers, the tougher and tougher feces become. During bowel movements (which is still inevitable), the mucous membrane is injured even more. There is a vicious circle.
- Emotional manifestations. In patients with a chronic anal fissure, nervous disorders often occur. Due to the inability to properly empty the intestines, such individuals suffer from depression, sleep disturbance, and deterioration of the skin and hair.
- Anal fissure in the baby symptoms will have the following: constant anxiety, crying, constipation, stress. Also, mommy can independently look at the anus of the child and see the described damage. Remember that the baby is not yet able to say what exactly is bothering him.
If you suspect that you have formed an anal fissure (symptoms are present), then you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. The acute course of the disease is treated quite successfully using conservative methods, while in advanced cases, surgical intervention may be required.
Anal fissure: causes (erroneous opinion)
Often patients agree that scars occur due to hemorrhoids. This is actually wrong. Hemorrhoidal nodes (internal or external) and anal fissure are two completely different diseases. However, quite often they occur simultaneously. These pathologies are practically independent of each other. They are treated by different methods.
Many patients believe that the elimination of hemorrhoids leads to a cure of the crack. This opinion is also erroneous. You should not guess on coffee grounds on your own. Contact an experienced specialist who will tell you about the causes of the development of pathology and offer modern methods of treatment.
Why does damage actually occur?
The main and only reason for the development of the problem cannot be called. A number of factors can affect the occurrence of damage. As you already know, an anal fissure is damage to the mucous membrane at the entrance to the intestine. It develops as a result of thinning of the walls and the inflammatory process. So, the first cause of anal fissure can be called tissue degeneration and inflammation.
Violation of the rules of personal hygiene often leads to the formation of a scar. It is necessary to carry out cleaning procedures after each act of defecation. If this is not done, then diaper rash begins to appear. The delicate mucous membrane becomes thinner and inflamed. As a result, it ruptures.
Constipation is the main cause of a crack. Moreover, this fact is a symptom and a consequence. That is, fecal retention is closely related to the formation of scars on the intestinal mucosa.
Damage to the shells may be mechanical. Often they arise due to the use of inexpensive and low-quality toilet paper. Also, lovers of anal sex often suffer from the symptoms described above.
Pregnancy and childbirth in women sometimes lead to the formation of an anal fissure. However, this does not mean that every future and newly made mom will face this problem. Pressure on the pelvis and pinched intestines are prerequisites for the formation of pathology. It is worth noting that the anal fissure is most dangerous if it occurs in the direction of the vagina immediately before childbirth. This type of scar can cause a rupture of the perineum 4 degrees.
Medical research (rectoscopy, colonoscopy, and so on) sometimes cause a crack. Moreover, it is rather a matter of lack of professionalism and violation of the rules during the procedure.
Pathology treatment
Depending on what symptoms the anal fissure has, treatment should be selected individually. That is why you should not independently deal with the problem and try to try medicines that have helped your friends. You may need an individual approach to scar correction.
Anal fissure treatment methods are different. The acute course of the disease is usually eliminated by conservative methods. If we are talking about the prolonged presence of a scar and a chronic form of pathology, then you may be offered surgical intervention. At the same time, during the operation, the doctor excises the changed walls of the scar, after which he grows together. Also now there are a variety of minimally invasive technologies that help cope with pathology.
What can be done at home?
Often patients do not go to medical facilities with this delicate problem. People try to cope with the disease on their own. For someone, this is quite successful. However, it is worth remembering that there is no single medicine to eliminate the anal fissure. You will need complex therapy. At home, you can adjust the diet, physical activity, use medications and resort to folk recipes.
With all this, it is worth remembering that if your efforts have not yielded results within 10-15 days, then you should immediately visit a doctor. Otherwise, the disease risks going into the chronic phase. In this case, the path to your healing will be long and thorny.
Diet and physical activity
If you have an anal fissure, the methods of treatment (at home) may be different. In this case, a diet should always be observed and moderate physical activity should be present.
As you already know, constipation is a frequent scar companion. It can have an acute and chronic form. Help adjust the stool and soften feces can adjust the diet. Avoid spices, savory foods, and fried foods. Alcohol and carbonated drinks are strictly prohibited. If you can not do without sweets, then prefer natural dark chocolate to fancy buns. Try to eat more vegetables and greens. Bread should contain bran. Mandatory liquid food in the form of soups. Contrast nutrition helps the stomach and intestines to intensify their work. For breakfast, for example, you can drink a glass of chilled juice, and after a while use hot oatmeal.
Moderate physical activity normalizes the work of the whole organism, in particular, the digestive tract. Nobody makes you run cross-country. Just prefer walking to work or go home on foot (refuse the elevator). With a sedentary lifestyle, the risk of cracking increases several times. If you have to sit at the computer for a long time during the day, then somehow you need to compensate for this.
Salvation for expectant mothers
If the anal fissure occurred during pregnancy, then one of the steps in its treatment will be the use of a bandage. This is especially true for long periods. The holding belt will provide a release of the load from the small pelvis and intestines. Also, expectant mothers can perform simple exercises that normalize blood flow to the pelvis.
Stand on all fours so that your stomach sags. Be in this position for several minutes. There can be many similar approaches per day. It is worth noting that such exercises not only reduce pressure on the intestines, but also relieve the back and kidneys.
The use of drugs at home
You can use medication to treat an anal fissure . However, before this, it is still recommended to consult a doctor. Some formulations may simply not work for you or cause side effects. Currently, the arsenal of scar control is ointments, gels, rectal suppositories and tablets. Among them are the following:
- Ointments . This type of medicine is applied up to twice a day immediately after bowel movement. First you need to very well clean the area of the anus. Ointments have a healing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect. The following drugs are most common among them: Ultraprokt, Bepanten, Solcoseryl, Methyluracil and others.
- Suppositories . These drugs are perfectly combined with means for external use. They help relieve spasm and eliminate discomfort. Also, some formulations have a laxative effect. These funds include Relief, Proctoglivenol, Methyluracil, sea-buckthorn suppositories, and so on.
- Pills Medications for oral administration include the removal of spasm, inflammation, and improved blood supply to damaged tissues. Among them, the following medications can be distinguished: Drotaverin, Spazmalgon, Actovegin, Curantil, Detralex, Phlebodia and others.
Remember that all the above medicines have their contraindications. Check them with your doctor or in the instructions.
The use of folk remedies
What methods of treatment with folk remedies can have an anal fissure? The patient's task is to alleviate his condition. To do this, you need to relieve pain and inflammation, normalize stool, increase immunity and have a healing effect. The following are some effective anal fissure recipes:
- Baths. It is effective to receive such treatment with a newly formed crack. To do this, prepare a decoction of chamomile and oak bark in the same proportions. Yarrow and calendula also have a healing and anti-inflammatory effect. Some patients prefer a solution of potassium permanganate. This option is also effective.
- Take two tablets of streptocide, a spoonful of honey and aloe juice. Grind and mix everything. Apply compresses before going to bed and cover them with a bandage.
- Prepare one part badger fat, propolis and alcohol. All mix. Peel the potato and give it a thin stick shape. Apply the prepared medicine to the tuber and enter into the rectum for half an hour.
- Make a concentrated broth of chamomile, add sea buckthorn oil to it. The prepared composition needs to be made microclysters with a volume of 30 ml.
- Melt 100 grams of butter. Add 10 grams of propolis and cook for several minutes. Cool the resulting substance and use as an ointment.
- Take the yolk of a chicken egg and mix with a decoction of bay leaf. Add a few drops of sea buckthorn oil. The resulting composition must lubricate the damaged area several times a day after thoroughly cleaning the anus.
Short summary
From the presented article, you learned about what an anal fissure is, and in what cases it can occur. It is worth making a reservation that with exacerbation of the disease, research manipulations are not allowed. First you need to cure the pathology. If you have such a delicate problem, do not wait. Please note that in a month your inaction can translate the pathology into a chronic, more complex form. In this situation, all the doctor’s efforts to heal you with medicines may be powerless. Watch your health and don’t be ill!