Anal Fissure: Symptoms, Causes, Risks and Treatment

• Written by Yashita Sinha

  Reviewed by Akhil Pillai

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In our regular lives, we often hear about common illnesses like dengue, malaria, fever, and the common cold. These are the conditions that people openly discuss and seek help for. However, there are other sets of conditions which are rarely discussed, not because they are not important, but because of the stigma attached to them. One such condition is anal fissure- a painful disease that silently affects individuals.

Today, we are going to throw light on this lesser-known issue, aiming to explain its symptoms and provide useful information about all related aspects. Let’s start by knowing about it and understanding why it needs to be discussed openly.

What is an Anal Fissure?

Anal fissure is a persistent condition that tears your anal lining, causing extreme pain and bleeding. Its impact is profoundly felt in daily activities. Simple activities like walking, sitting, and standing become painful. To help you understand better, its symptoms are broken down into simple points below.

Common Symptoms of Anal Fissure

Here are some warning signs of anal fissure that you should look out for:

• Painful bowel movements
• Blood in stools
• A lump in the skin near the tear
• Burning sensation and itching while passing stools

Now that we’ve discussed the symptoms, let’s move on to understand the causes of this condition.

Causes of Anal Fissure

Some of the most common causes of anal fissure are:

• Anal intercourse
• Childbirth
• Ongoing diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Straining during bowel movements
• Some lesser-known causes also include anal cancer, tuberculosis, HIV, syphilis, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory bowel diseases.

Did you notice that the symptoms of piles and fissures are almost similar? This similarity makes it easy to mistake one condition for another. For some clarity, let’s understand the difference between the two.

Difference between Piles and Anal Fissure

Since both piles and anal fissure affect the anal region, they’re often thought to be the same. However, they’re two different conditions. Piles cause inflammation of veins in the rectum, whereas fissures are small cracks in the anal lining.

Additionally, piles are visible as lumps around the anal region, causing itching, bleeding, and discomfort. Anal fissure, on the other hand, causes intense pain during and after bowel movements.

How is Anal Fissure Diagnosed?

Doctors follow a simple process to diagnose an anal fissure. First, they’ll ask about the symptoms that a patient is experiencing. The next step involves physical examination of the fissure. For this purpose, they can follow either of the following procedures:

Anoscopy

This procedure involves inserting a tubular device (anoscope) into the anus to examine the

rectum and anus from inside.

Colonoscopy

In this procedure, doctors insert a flexible tube into the rectum to inspect the entire colon. It is usually done when a patient is at higher risk of colon cancer.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

This procedure involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera attached into the lower portion of the colon. It's done for individuals who don’t show any risk factors for intestinal diseases or colon cancer.

>> Also Read: Diseases Covered under Health Insurance Policy

What is the Treatment of Anal Fissure?

Medical treatment for anal fissure is focused towards relaxing the anal sphincter muscles surrounding your anal canal. This allows the fissure to close gradually, helping to restore blood flow to the tissues. There are three ways in which they can be treated.

Medications

• Painkillers: Ibuprofen or paracetamol can help with persistent pain.
• Stool Softeners or Mild Laxatives: These help with easing bowel movements and prevent further tearing.
• Calcium Channel Blockers: Diltiazem or nifedipine are effective alternatives to painkillers and help in relaxing your anal muscles and blood vessels.

Surgical Options

• Botox Injections: These temporarily paralyse the anal sphincter muscle to reduce pressure in the anal region, and promote healing.
• Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy (LIS): A minor surgery that involves cutting off a small portion of the anal sphincter muscle to reduce pain. It proves to be effective when other treatments fail.

How Can You Treat or Prevent an Anal Fissure?

If you notice the symptoms of anal fissure, there are certain dos and don’ts that you need to keep in mind:

Living with Anal Fissure

Anal Fissure is one of the most painful conditions to live with. It can be physically and mentally draining. The intense pain during bowel movements can make everyday activities like walking, sitting, or even standing feel like a challenge.

Now that you’re aware of the symptoms and causes of the condition, you can follow the steps mentioned in the do’s section to prevent it. With simple lifestyle changes, it is possible to reduce the risk of developing the condition. However, there’s no guarantee that these measures will be completely helpful in keeping it at bay. In such cases, timely action is crucial.

This is where having comprehensive health insurance plans in India can do wonders. It not only eases the financial burden of consultations, medicines and surgery if required, but also ensures that you get access to quality treatments without any delay.

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.