Symptoms And Causes Of Anal Fissure

A small tear in the lining of the anus that causes pain during bowel movements is called anal fissure. It is a common problem.

Most of the fissures take place at the bottom or top or along mid-line of the anus. People of ages are affected by anal fissure and it is equally common in both the sexes.

After the development of a fissure, the internal anal sphincter usually goes into contraction. This further separates the tear which impairs the healing and causes pain. Bleeding and itching may also be caused due to anal fissure.

Symptoms of anal fissure include itching and stinking discharge, stinging, sharp or burning pain during and post bowel movement, and bright red blood spots observed on toilet tissue. This blood is distinct from the stool. If blood is mixed with stool then it may indicate some other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. This bleeding may stain the toilet bowl and make it look like heavy bleeding.

These symptoms of anal fissure may be exhibited after every bowel movement and rectal pain may last a few minutes to hours. The bleeding may cease once the anal fissure becomes chronic but the rectal pain may continue to give you pain. Some sufferers may also experience itching or irritation on the neighboring skin of anus.

Behind every medical condition there are some causes or the other. Anal fissure usually develops when a hard and dry bowel movement injures the anal tissue and tears its lining. It can also develop if an increased pressure is created in the anal sphincter. An inflammation of anorectal part and diarrhea may also cause an anal fissure. Foreign body insertion, anal intercourse or digital insertion during examination also cause anal fissure.

In some people other health conditions may cause anal fissure. These health conditions include abdominal pain, fever, inflammatory disease (IBD) that occurs with bloody diarrhea, Vitamin B6 deficiency, weight loss, and tuberculosis. Crohn’s disease, HIV infection, anal cancer, a low fiber diet and syphilis may also cause anal fissure. Many women develop an anal fissure during childbirth.

In almost 50% of the cases, anal fissures cure by themselves. You can get relief from anal fissure by consuming more fluids, avoiding sharp foods, eating a diet that is high in fiber, and by using stool softeners.