When talking about discomfort in the anal region, one can’t help but feel slightly embarrassed. It is, after all, a relatively private issue. However, while often less talked about, anal diseases are a common occurrence.
Still, its effects can often lead to undesirable discomfort and pain, which is why more emphasis should be placed on the treatment of anal disease. Anal disease or anorectal disorders refers to medical conditions that occur at the junction of the anal canal and the rectum. These conditions may reflect internally or externally depending on their location.
In most cases, anal diseases may be caused by bowel disorders that lead to damage to the lining along the rectal walls or, in rare cases, be an indication of conditions that are much more severe.
Read on to find out more about the different types of conditions that may affect the anorectal region.
Haemorrhoids (Piles)
Haemorrhoids (also known as piles) are swollen veins found in the lower rectum. They are abnormally engorged and swollen blood vessels in the anus and lower rectum, causing discomfort, itchiness or pain. In addition, they can swell up with blood clots (thrombosed piles), causing severe pain. A more dangerous complication of piles is rectal (or anal) bleeding.
They are also differentiated by their location; internal haemorrhoids and external haemorrhoids.
Internal haemorrhoids are usually painless but tend to lead to anal bleeding, while external haemorrhoids may cause pain.
An anal fistula is a small channel that makes an abnormal connection between the end of the bowel and the skin around the anus. More often than not, anal fistulas start from an infection near the anus that causes a collection of pus (abscess) in the surrounding tissue.
The collection of pus grows and stretches the skin through the lining of the anus. Thus a connection is formed between the skin and anus.
Surgery to drain the pus may also leave a small channel behind. This is known as an anal fistula, and it may cause anal bleeding and discharge when passing motion and can be painful.
An anal fissure or anorectal fissure is a small tear in the lining of the anal canal, simply put, the skin around the anus.
The anal canal is the lowest part of the large intestine. An anal fissure may occur an excessive strain is used to excrete hard or large stools during bowel movement. As a result, you may experience pain and rectal bleeding in subsequent bowel movements.
The split in the skin may lead to severe pain and rectal & anal bleeding during and after bowel movements.
An anal abscess is a painful condition involving a collection of pus that develops near the anus.
A perianal abscess may appear red and feel warm to the touch, and are typically caused by infections of the small anal glands. In some instances, the abscess cannot heal, and tears open on the skin’s surface, resulting in a painful anal fistula. The most common and effective way to remove perianal abscess is via surgical incision and drainage.
As a strong proponent of treating the patient holistically instead of just their condition, Dr Ganesh Ramalingam advises patients as to how they can manage their daily habits and diets to lead healthier lifestyles. As a consultant with G&L Surgical Clinic specialising in General Surgery, he sees many patients with conditions related to the stomach and is skilled in bariatric surgery, upper GI and hernia surgery, advanced laparoscopic surgery, endoscopies, and trauma.
