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How is an anal fissure treated? Treatment of fissures in the anus in children and adults. Cracks in the anus Cracks in the anus causes

With hemorrhoids, anal fissures - damage to the rectum at the junction of the skin and mucous membrane. The cause of this phenomenon may be an inflammatory disease of the anorectal area (proctitis, colitis, hemorrhoids), frequent painful constipation, mechanical damage or trauma, or unsuccessful medical intervention.

Much depends on the elasticity of tissues and the strength of blood vessels. First, a small gap appears, which gradually deepens, reaching depth of 3-5 mm and length of about 2-3 cm. Typically, such damage is localized at the posterior or anterior surface of the anus, reaching the muscular layer of the sphincter.

The disease affects men aged 35 to 50 years, but recently proctologists have diagnosed anal fissures in women as well.

Hemorrhoids and fissures: photos

Cracks in hemorrhoids in the photo:

Symptoms and causes

Among the main causes of anal fissures:

inflammation of the anorectal area (colitis, proctitis, hemorrhoids, cryptitis, enterocolitis);
hereditary predisposition;
injuries;
medical intervention using various instruments (anoscopes, rectomanoscopes);
chronic constipation;
poor nutrition;
bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking).

What are the symptoms of fissures and hemorrhoids? In the initial stage, an anal fissure is almost invisible and represents a small tear in the mucous membrane. Gradually it expands, the edges of the wound move apart and become rougher, the bottom is filled with granulate.

A characteristic hard bump appears at the inner edge of the crack, indicating that the disease has entered the chronic phase.

An old fissure does not bleed during the rest period, but a small amount of blood may be released during bowel movements. It does not get into the feces; a slight red trace can be seen on toilet paper or underwear.

How to distinguish hemorrhoids from fissures? Unlike hemorrhoids, bleeding from anal fissures does not form clots. Defecation almost always accompanied by pain, it can be sharp and cutting or pulling and dull, radiating to the lower abdomen and sacrum.

Often a rectal fissure is combined with hemorrhoids. These diseases have a similar nature - damage to tissues and blood vessels is affected by poor blood supply, frequent tension of blood vessels and muscles, trauma from compressed feces, infection of open wounds during bowel movements.

Are there any other differences between an anal fissure and hemorrhoids? The nodes protruding from the anus further injure the skin, the cracks begin to bleed, fester, and local inflammation occurs. Sometimes one disease is a consequence of another.

Anal fissures often occur when. , affecting not only symptoms, but also.

Treatment Options

Many people use it to treat anal fissures. agents suitable for antihemorrhoidal therapy. The patient is prescribed a combination of painkillers, decongestants and regenerative drugs in the form of tablets, capsules, and rectal suppositories.

Instead of drying gels, it is better to use fat-based creams and ointments. For painful inflammation and suppuration, antibiotic injections or ointments containing the same active ingredients are prescribed: levomecithin, syntomycin, prednisolone.

Relieve the patient's condition Microenemas or warm treatment with physiotherapeutic devices will help. When surgery is indicated. Sometimes it is combined with.

Infrared coagulation is also possible. Affects both anal fissure and hemorrhoids. Such minimally invasive technique significantly shortens the recovery period and speeds up recovery.

If you give up bad habits and after surgery, a long period of remission follows. Relapses occur no earlier than after 10 years, and in many cases the disease does not return.

Diet features

Very An important point for hemorrhoids and anal fissures is proper nutrition. It is necessary to strain and bring blood to the anus. helps maintain the patient’s normal weight and ensures proper digestion.

The ideal routine is split meals in 4-5 meals, the total calorie content should not exceed 2500 kilocalories.

Proper nutrition will help:

avoid constipation and diarrhea;
reduce the risk of infections and inflammation;
improve blood flow and lymph outflow;
prevent attacks of pain;
accelerate natural tissue regeneration.

Diet is necessary to prevent anal fissures and after surgery. After healing, the tissues become more vulnerable; if the regime is not followed, new, deeper and more painful ruptures are possible.

How to create a menu?

What can you eat for hemorrhoids and fissures? The basis of the diet of a patient with hemorrhoids who has an anal fissure should be light and nutritious meals. The daily diet includes:

Porridge on the water(millet, buckwheat, oatmeal). Whole grain cereals contain a lot of fiber, are well saturated, and contain many B vitamins.
Stewed, boiled and baked vegetables. Zucchini, tomatoes, pumpkin, eggplant, cucumbers, green beans, cauliflower, and beets are especially useful. They are rich in vitamins, potassium and sodium. You should not overuse raw vegetables; they can irritate the stomach and cause diarrhea.
Fresh fruit(apples, pears, red and black berries, melons, watermelons, persimmons, apricots, peaches, plums). A source of vitamins, potassium, magnesium and other important microelements. Dried fruits are no less useful: prunes, dried apricots, dates, figs. During exacerbations, you should avoid overly sweet fruits (bananas, grapes), as well as citrus fruits.
Fermented milk products. Homemade yogurt without additives, low-fat kefir, cottage cheese, pickled cheeses provide the body with calcium, improve digestion and normalize bowel movements
Lean fish and white meat poultry. A source of easily digestible protein, mineral salts, polyunsaturated fatty acids. Meat and fish are cooked in a double boiler, slow cooker or oven; fried and cooked over an open fire dishes are best excluded from the diet.
Vegetable oils. It is better to add them to ready-made dishes without cooking them. In addition to sunflower and olive oil, the daily diet includes corn, soybean, rapeseed, and flaxseed oil.

Very drinking regime is important. Frequent bleeding and diarrhea can cause dehydration. It is necessary to give up coffee, strong tea, and carbonated drinks in favor of homemade fruit drinks, compotes, and clean still water.

The menu should have more liquid products: soups, light vegetable sauces, fruit purees. They are easily digestible, do not irritate the intestinal walls, and stimulate bowel movements.

During exacerbations, it is necessary to provoke a deterioration in the patient's condition. During the period of remission, greater freedom is possible; from time to time, treats can be included in the diet: a small amount of chocolate, sweet fruits, starchy vegetables.

We figured out what you can eat for hemorrhoids and fissures. However, a balanced diet requires the elimination of many foods. The prohibited list includes:

smoked meats and pickles;
fast food;
breaded semi-finished products;
red meat (pork, beef, lamb);
sausages;
deep-fried dishes;
mushrooms;
fresh white bread and pastries;
hot sauces, spices;
industrial sweets;
whole milk, full fat sour cream;
animal fats;
solid vegetable fats.

Patients should completely refuse. Ethyl alcohol in any concentration causes a strong dilation of blood vessels, a rush of blood to the pelvic area and rapid growth of hemorrhoids.

Alcohol impairs wound healing and provokes internal bleeding. Nicotine, tobacco tar and combustion products increase the fragility of blood vessels, causing their deformation and increasing the risk of thrombosis.

When you quit smoking, the risk of recurrence of hemorrhoids and anal fissures sharply decreases.

Hemorrhoids and rectal fissures are ailments that have a common nature and often accompany each other. The earlier the problem is diagnosed, the faster and easier the treatment. However, the chronic form is also amenable to intervention. A timely operation will get rid of the nodes and eliminate damage to the rectum.

Useful video

An operation to treat hemorrhoids and a story about hemorrhoids and anal fissures are presented in this video:

Anal fissure most often occurs in women of reproductive age. However, both men and children are susceptible to this disease. The risk category includes people who are sedentary, often suffer from constipation, and also eat poorly.

An anal fissure is a rupture in the mucous membrane of the rectum. Cracks come in various sizes and cause great discomfort to the patient. If a person has had it for a long time, in this case an anal fissure may even appear on the side walls of the anal canal. 25% of people who consult a proctologist for one issue or another are diagnosed with an anal fissure.

The very first and main symptom is a sharp pain that occurs during the act of defecation. Soreness can persist for 40 minutes after bowel movement, and if at first the patient is bothered by a sharp pain, then it develops into a dull, throbbing pain.
If the crack is deep enough, you may notice a small amount of scarlet blood on the toilet paper.

If with each subsequent time the pain intensifies and the amount of blood released increases, you must urgently consult a proctologist. At first, conservative treatment is sufficient - the doctor will prescribe special ointments or suppositories, but if the disease is advanced, then surgical intervention may be required.

The main cause of anal fissure is frequent constipation. In addition, constipation can also cause hemorrhoids, and this disease is much more serious than an anal fissure. The following factors may also contribute to the development of the disease:

If the disease is caused by constipation, normalizing the stool will eliminate the disease over time. However, at the first constipation, the disease returns. Basically, anal fissure is caused by several factors, so if you notice the first signs of the disease, you need to contact a proctologist as soon as possible.

Anal fissures are divided into two subtypes:

Acute fissure - occurs as a result of constipation, passes quickly and does not cause much discomfort;
Chronic fissure - appears as a result of hemorrhoids and thinning of the rectal mucosa. Requires special treatment and constant monitoring.

What complications can an anal fissure cause?

Due to the fact that small bleeding wounds appear on the anus, infection, swelling, and irritation may occur. In addition, the crack can contribute to menstrual irregularities in women. With a chronic disease, the anal ring thickens (pectenosis), as a result of which the patient may experience constipation.

Infections lead to the patient having... Also, if infected, wounds may become suppurated, severe itching, weeping, and maceration may occur.

Anal fissures can often be no different in symptoms from a more serious disease - hemorrhoids. In this case, only an experienced coloproctologist can recognize which disease is troubling the patient. Don't hesitate to visit the doctor!

Bloody and purulent discharge, difficulty in defecation, acute pain can also become. If you do not seek help in a timely manner, self-medicate (especially if the patient believes that he has hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids), you may miss the moment when the disease is in its infancy and needs to be treated.

Diagnostics

In some cases, a visual inspection will be enough for a specialist. If the fissure is located inside the anus - in this case, the proctologist inserts a finger into the anus - using the palpation method, he will be able to determine the degree of the disease, feel the size of the anal fissure, its depth.

A sigmoidoscope is a special device that is used to identify rectal problems. Thanks to this device, you can diagnose diseases such as fistula, hemorrhoids and anal fissure. It is usually used if the crack is deep, or if diagnosing it using the finger method is unacceptable for a number of reasons. The doctor may also use anoscopy - examination of the final section of the rectum.

Almost every time, anal fissures appear in people who have serious specific diseases: HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, syphilis, etc. If you have the above diseases, you must inform your doctor before the examination.

Anal fissure in children

An anal fissure in a child is most often caused by poor nutrition, namely, eating too spicy or smoked food. In addition, there are additional factors:

Anal fissures in children are much less common than in adults, so surgery is prescribed in extremely rare cases.

Usually the doctor prescribes an ointment for anal fissures, suppositories, and a diet. It is necessary to include foods rich in fiber in your child’s diet - vegetables, bran bread, fruits. It is also necessary to consume a sufficient amount of vegetable and animal fats. Kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, whey - all fermented milk products should be present in the baby’s diet every day!

Treatment of anal fissure

Many people are concerned about the question of how to cure a fissure in the anus quickly and permanently. We have already mentioned suppositories and ointments (this is the most common method of treatment). You can relieve pain and speed up wound healing at home.

Warm baths (no more than 45 degrees C) with the addition of medicinal herbs such as mint, celandine, and chamomile help well with anal fissures. To relieve sphincter spasm, use nitroglycerin ointment or potassium permanganate.

Tablets will help normalize stool:

Senadexin,
Ajax,
Bisacodyl.

A decoction with the addition of hay and buckthorn also helps normalize stool. Rectal suppositories containing benzocaine will also have a positive effect. For the healing of anal fissures, "Ultraproct", etc.

Do not forget about ointments - “Solcoserine”, “Levomikol” are quite effective means that quickly eliminate pain and promote the healing of rectal wounds. Experts recommend taking relaxing baths before using ointments and suppositories - this will enhance the results of treatment.

In what cases is surgery prescribed?

If the prescribed treatment does not help, the anal fissure does not heal and continues to hurt, cause discomfort and bleed, the patient is prescribed surgical intervention.

The essence of the operation is that the proctologist sews up the cracks. The operation is simple, and after literally three days the patient is ready to return to normal life and forget about the problem that bothered him. After the operation, you must follow a simple rule - watch your diet and avoid constipation and other mechanical damage to the anus.

Treatment of anal fissure with folk remedies at home

Traditional medicine recipes are an effective, harmless and uncomplicated way to get rid of the disease. Candles for a fissure in the anus (like ointments) can be prepared at home.

All suppositories must be stored in the refrigerator!

Baths:

If you are concerned about a disease such as anal fissure, it is very important to follow the rules of personal hygiene. Otherwise, the wound may become inflamed, the process of suppuration will begin, and an infection will begin to develop. This will complicate the course of the disease and add discomfort, moreover, treatment will take much more time.

Warming up helps a lot with anal fissures if done regularly. Don't forget about fiber - if you can't include fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet, buy fiber at the pharmacy and take 1 tbsp. twice a day before meals.

get rid of anal fissures - the tablets can be taken orally, or you can make an ointment out of them. To do this, you need to heat the flower honey and add crushed mummy tablets into the resulting liquid substance.

Cabbage juice therapy is a good method to improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines. Take 100 fresh cabbage juice on an empty stomach daily.

The most effective and popular ointments for treatment

Many of us live in a frantic pace of life, and there is neither time nor energy for making ointments and suppositories on our own. In this case, it is better to turn to pharmacy medications - many of them are based on natural ingredients. Below is a list of the most effective ointments that will quickly help eliminate the disease.

1. Nitroglycerin ointment is the oldest, most common and effective method of treating anal fissure.
2. - an antiseptic that quickly heals wounds and blocks inflammatory processes in the rectal area.
3. “Ultraproct” - not only disinfects wounds and promotes healing of anal fissure, but also has a pronounced analgesic effect.
4. Ointment “Rescuer”. A well-known remedy that we use to heal wounds. It has antiseptic properties and is based on natural ingredients. Suitable for use even with chronic anal fissures.
5. “Solcoseryl” - quickly restores good health, promotes cell regeneration and restoration of mucosal tissue. To enhance the effect, the ointment can be applied to a tampon and inserted into the anus at night.

Anal fissures during childbirth and pregnancy

During pregnancy, significant changes occur in the female body, which... As a result, there are complications in the form of anal fissures and hemorrhoids.

Since women are not recommended to use pharmacological agents during pregnancy, proctologists recommend adjusting the diet in order to soften the stool and prevent the development of constipation.

Pregnant women who suffer from ruptures of the anal mucosa are recommended to consume:

Do not forget about the water diet - at least 2 liters of liquid per day. Tea and coffee are not taken into account, drink only natural water without adding gases!

It is very important to identify the disease in a timely manner, since during childbirth an anal fissure can turn into a rupture of the rectum - which is fraught with additional complications.

Prevention of anal fissures

Among proctological diseases, anal fissure is one of the most common anomalies, and ranks third after colitis and hemorrhoids. It is characterized by a simultaneous manifestation with hemorrhoids, in which internal prolapse of hemorrhoidal cones is observed.

So, what are the causes of anal fissures?

An anal fissure in the anus (pictured below) is a vertical defect that is located on the mucous tissues of the rectum, very close to the opening. Its length usually does not exceed 3 cm, its width is about 4 mm, and its depth is 3 mm.

Anal fissure

As a rule, it forms on that part of the anal wall that is near the tailbone or in the area of the commissure, or appears in both places simultaneously. In this case, they are located opposite each other.

The disease occurs in people of both sexes, but is most common in women, and can also occur in children.

Microcracks in the anus, although they are very small in size, cause a person many unpleasant moments, since they are characterized by severe pain, especially when they are chronic.

This is explained by the fact that There are many nerve endings in the anal area, which cause unbearable pain when the skin cracks.

In addition, a fissure in the anus is dangerous because it can be modified into a malignant formation. In 20% of cases, it provokes the development of a cancerous tumor of the anal canal, as well as such severe pathology as paroproctitis.

Causes of formation of painful cracks

So, why do anal fissures appear, what causes this pathological phenomenon? It must be emphasized that the causes of a fissure in the anus may be hidden in some factors, of which, unfortunately, there are a lot:

Injury to the mucous tissue of the anal canal during the process of defecation.
Having chronic constipation.
Sphincter contraction.
Pregnancy and childbirth.
Incorrectly performed examination of the rectum, for example, ultrasound, endoscopy.
An unprofessionally (illiterate) inserted enema tip that damaged the anal skin.

Why do cracks appear in the anus? The most common factor causing the disease is constipation. Solid particles of feces involuntarily injure the delicate tissues of the rectum.

Other reasons that contribute to the formation of cracks near the anus:

The presence of injured areas on the rectal mucosa.
Injuries received during childbirth.
Significant decrease in the tone of the pelvic floor muscles.
Chronic gastrointestinal pathologies.
Engaging in heavy physical work.

Crack in the anus

The appearance of cracks in the anus (pictured above) is facilitated by the presence of certain diseases in the patient:

Sphincteritis.
Anal condyloma.
Anoproctitis.
Dysentery.
AIDS or HIV.
Syphilis.
Tuberculosis and a number of other diseases.

Persons who abuse alcoholic beverages and people with an excessively sedentary lifestyle are at risk of acquiring an unpleasant disease.

It's no secret that the formation of an anal fissure after sex (non-traditional) is a fairly common occurrence.

Features of the course of the disease

The development of symptoms of anal fissure is most facilitated by the presence of gastrointestinal pathologies, so doctors always insist on a comprehensive examination of the gastrointestinal tract.

What are the symptoms of anal fissure? This disease is characterized by:

Severe pain near the anus, especially increasing after defecation.
Sometimes drops of blood appear.
Spasm (sharp contraction) of the anal sphincter.
Continuous itching discomfort in the posterior orifice.

The most striking symptom of the disease is pain. After a bowel movement, a person feels severe pain that lasts for several hours. Because of this, sleep is disturbed, the patient sleeps in fits and starts, becomes irritable, and fears of having to go to the toilet appear.

Intense pain, bleeding and spasm are the 3 main symptoms of a fissure in the anal sphincter.

If an anal fissure is combined with the development of hemorrhoids, the patient complains of prolapse of hemorrhoids (bumps) and severe rectal bleeding.

In this case, one pathology provokes aggravation of another:

Increased pain during bowel movements.
There is a spasm of the muscles of the anus.

Both of these factors increase the pain of an anal fissure and interfere with its healing.

The most striking sign of pathology is pain discomfort

Cracks around the anus can be either chronic or acute, depending on the duration of the disease and morphological modifications of the mucosa in the problem area.

Acute anal fissure

Acute anal fissure causes pain that passes quickly (at the time of defecation) with minimal bleeding, but with a clear manifestation of spasm. It is similar to irritation of the mucous membrane when red-scarlet muscle fibers are noted. Usually heals 5-6 weeks after its occurrence.

Chronic fissure

The chronic fissure in the anus in the photo below has clear boundaries, and rough scar tissue is indicated. It gives rise to prolonged pain, which intensifies not only at the time of defecation, but even with the slightest attempt to change the position of the body.

Over time, the patient develops the so-called “fear of stupor”, that is, fear of a natural need - bowel movement. Chronic posterior anal fissure is characterized by an increase in depth.

Photo of anal fissure

Why doesn't an anal fissure heal? The defect cannot be healed only in two cases:

Incorrect treatment.
If factors that irritate the rectum have not been eliminated (dry and hard feces, diarrhea or constipation, poor diet).

Always remember that you cannot self-medicate; the causes and treatment of the fissure near the anus in the photo above are determined only by a doctor.

Features of the treatment of the disease

Patients suffering from this intractable pathology ask how to get rid of anal fissures? Therapy is based on a carefully selected integrated approach.

For each patient, it is prescribed on an individual basis; the characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract condition, the presence of other ailments and complications are studied. The reasons for contacting a proctologist are:

An acute crack does not heal for more than two weeks.
Fecal incontinence, which indicates insufficient functioning of the sphincter.
The appearance of bleeding from the rectum.
Lack of appetite, abdominal pain.
Nausea, vomiting.
No stool for more than 5 days.
There is no passing of gases for more than a day.
Unexpected sharp pain in the perineum, lower abdomen or anus.
Deterioration in health, increase in temperature.
Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin.

The operation is prescribed if:

Conservative treatment for 6-8 weeks did not give the expected results.
The patient continues to complain of discomfort.
Inflammatory complications appeared.
Chronic anal fissure occurs simultaneously with hemorrhoids.
Fecal incontinence.

The appearance of bleeding from the rectum is a symptom of anal fissure

The patient should adhere to the following recommendations:

After finishing defecation, do not use toilet paper, but wash with warm water.
Take sitz baths using potassium permanganate or medicinal herbs (sage, chamomile), which perfectly relieve pain and inflammatory formations.
Regulate your diet and follow a diet.
Drink at least two liters of water per day.
Remove spicy, fatty foods, as well as marinades and smoked foods from your diet.
If the doctor has prescribed ointments and suppositories with a wound-healing effect, do not forget to use them.
Take laxatives and cleansing enemas (for patients with chronic constipation), as well as antispasmodics, which will help relieve involuntary sphincter spasm.
Avoid prolonged sitting and do not lift heavy objects.

How to heal an anal fissure? Among medications, doctors recommend suppositories that have a mild and effective healing effect:

Posterized.
Proctosan.
Suppositories with propolis.
Ultraproct.
Natalsid.
Salofalk.

Candles are used 2 times a day (morning and evening).

Ointments and creams are prescribed when the defective area is located near the anus:

Ultraproct.
Ointment-balm Ratovnik.
Nitroglycerin ointment.
Levomekol.
Proctosan.
Solcoseryl.

In addition to the medications listed above, there are other equally effective options, but their use is only permissible with the permission of a doctor. Recently, it has become popular, which gives a good therapeutic effect.

To avoid the appearance of pathological symptoms in the anus, try to follow all the instructions of your doctor.

Conclusion

Lead a healthy lifestyle, give up bad habits, in particular drinking alcohol, smoking, and stick to proper nutrition. Remember that your health depends on you.

An anal fissure is a disorder in the structure of the mucous membrane of the human anus. Most often, such a defect occurs on the back wall. The size of the crack usually ranges from one to two centimeters. But despite this, the disease, if left untreated, can lead to dangerous complications for a person’s health.

This disease ranks among the most common problems in the field of rectal diseases. More than fifty percent of the occurrence of this disease is observed in women, especially between the ages of twenty-five and forty. It occurs more frequently in men with non-traditional sexual orientation.

But not only adults are susceptible to anal fissure. Very rarely, but still, it can occur in children. Children of preschool and primary school age are often affected by the disease. Appears equally in children of any gender. In this case, the anal fissure does not exceed a few millimeters in size.

Over time, the edges of the crack thicken, making it more difficult to get rid of such a delicate problem. And if treatment is not started on time, then there is a possibility that several cracks will appear in the anus.

If you provide effective treatment, you can get rid of this disease in almost all cases. The only exception is failure to seek help from specialists in a timely manner.

Etiology

Anal fissures can be caused by many factors. Among the main ones are the following:

hard physical labor;
long;
excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
foreign object in the anus;
sedentary lifestyle or working conditions;
eating food seasoned with hot spices;
any damage or injury that directly affected the structure of the anal mucosa;
infectious intestinal diseases;
spicy ;
childbirth, the complication of which is such a pathology;
enemas, especially if this procedure is carried out incorrectly;
– the most common cause of anal fissure in a child;
damage during medical examination;
specific sexual relations – anal or same-sex sex.

Varieties

The disease exists in several forms and can be:

acute anal fissure – formation occurred less than a month ago. This type of damage heals on its own after a certain time, about a month and a half;
chronic anal fissure – characterized by long-term existence and accompanied by scanty bleeding.

Symptoms

There are several signs of the disease:

a strong burning sensation in the anus, which can transform into a continuous sensation of pain;
a slight discharge of blood along with the stool (can be easily seen on toilet paper). In this case, the structure and color of feces does not change.

Based on the course and frequency of symptoms of anal fissure, you can independently distinguish the form of the disease:

painful sensations. In acute cases, it is intense, lasting up to twenty minutes, disturbing a person only during the process of defecation. Chronic anal fissure is not very pronounced, lasts about three minutes, discomfort is felt both during and after the act of defecation;
spasms. The chronic form is not accompanied, but in the acute form, the spasm increases pain and adds a pulsating shade;
bleeding - both forms of the disease are characterized by the release of blood, the difference is only in the quantity. Chronic - to a lesser extent, acute - with a greater degree of concentration;
repeatability of pronounced symptoms is typical for the chronic form, but not for the acute form.

For a child, especially an infant, the presentation of symptoms is somewhat different from that of adults.

In infants, this disease is expressed in:

strong screaming and crying when excreting feces;
feces density;
the presence of mucus in the stool;
sleep disturbance;
absence of gases;
slight increase in body temperature;
increased anxiety and restlessness of the baby.

An older child may:

independently delay the emission of feces;
complain of discomfort and the sensation of a foreign object in the anus;
the child may refuse to go to the toilet or sit on the potty due to fear of pain.

Complications

Like most diseases, a disorder in the structure of the anal perineum entails consequences for the health of an adult or child. But it is worth noting that they do not appear in all patients, but depending on the individual course of the disease.

Complications of anal fissure are:

constant bleeding (not only during bowel movements);
spread of infection throughout the intestinal mucosa;
inflammation of the lining surrounding the rectum (consisting of fat cells);
(in men).

Diagnostics

Before the patient is given a final diagnosis, the doctor must carry out a number of diagnostic measures, which consist of:

examination of the anus. It is carried out so that the doctor can distinguish the form of the disease by external signs;
clinical tests;
research using special tools.

An examination will help the doctor determine the type of disease and prescribe the correct treatment. This is done because the acute and chronic forms of anal fissure differ in appearance.

An acute disease has:

the shape of a smooth slit, about two centimeters in length;
elastic edges;
clean bottom.

Chronic anal fissure is represented by:

in the form of a gap, but not straight, but in a zigzag;
compacted and uneven edges;
the bottom is scarred and with a grayish coating.

Instrumental research includes:

anoscopy - additionally using digital examination;
retroscopy – to identify possible diseases of the colon;
irrigoscopy - to exclude or confirm intestinal damage;
radiography.

Treatment

There are several ways to cure anal fissures:

medicinally;
surgical intervention.

Treatment with medications and ointments is aimed at:

relieving pain;
relief from orifice spasms;
normalization of feces;
healing.

When seeking help in the early stages of the disease, you can get rid of it by using special ointments or suppositories for anal fissures, which are prescribed by a doctor, and the patient can carry out therapy at home independently. Mild laxatives will help relieve constipation.

Surgery for anal fissure is performed only when other treatments have not helped the patient, as well as in cases of chronic type of disease. During the operation, the dense edges of the crack are removed and the bottom of the ulcer is cleaned. Such medical intervention will help speed up healing, after which the patient’s full recovery can be guaranteed. The duration of the operation is half an hour.

After undergoing any treatment method, a person is prescribed a special diet, during which the patient is prohibited from consuming:

fatty and fried foods;
hot spices, sauces and ketchups;
alcoholic drinks in any quantity.

For anal fissure, the diet should be enriched with:

fiber;
porridge;
fresh fruits and vegetables;
dried fruits - especially dried apricots, raisins, prunes and dates;
fermented milk products.

In addition, drink a lot of water and unsweetened green tea, at least two liters per day.

Anal fissure can be treated with folk remedies. Ointments, decoctions and tinctures are made from the herbs and plants listed below. Recipes consist of:

soft part of aloe;
mixtures of yarrow, centaury, St. John's wort and vegetable oil;
forest mallow and chamomile;
bran steamed in boiling water;
eggs and fish oil;
oak bark;
motherwort and plantain;
calendula and peony;
carrots, beets and badger fat;
sage

Folk remedies include taking sitz baths, which consist of:

from milk and onions;
chamomile;
sequences;
mint, but not peppermint;
potassium permanganate;
sea buckthorn oil.

Taking such baths should not exceed ten minutes a day. They need to be used daily until complete recovery.

Prevention

Preventive medications for anal fissure can completely prevent the occurrence of such a disorder.

Prevention consists of simple rules:

adhere to a healthy lifestyle, completely give up alcohol and nicotine;
The diet should consist of plenty of vitamins, fiber and other nutrients. You should especially monitor your diet if an anal fissure appears in a child;
do not restrain the urge to defecate;
maintaining personal hygiene of the genital organs;
timely treatment of other anal diseases;
physical activity, but not excessive;
devote about half an hour a day to walking (with a sedentary lifestyle);
if the process of defecation has not begun after spending five minutes on the toilet, it is better to postpone it for a while;
consume legumes, baked goods, and unrefined sunflower oil in small quantities;
food should not be very hot or not very cold;
drink plenty of fluids (at least two liters a day).

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Treatment for rectal fissures aims to relieve pain, treat constipation, and soften stools. For chronic rectal fissures, when symptoms last more than 6 weeks, surgery may be necessary.

Treatment methods for anal fissure

Anal fissure is a very painful and common disease that causes a lot of suffering to the patient. Therefore, people often wonder how to cure anal fissure completely.

Like any tear or cut in the skin, anal fissures often heal on their own within a few weeks. However, a person with this disease should definitely consult a doctor, who can recommend treatments that alleviate the symptoms and accelerate the healing of the anal fissure.

Treatment of adult patients

An anal fissure, like many other diseases, can be cured at home. However, you should strictly follow your doctor's recommendations, which are usually aimed at eliminating constipation and relieving symptoms.

Eliminating constipation allows the fissure to heal faster and reduces the risk of its occurrence in the future.

Treatment of anal fissures at home includes:

Increasing the amount of fiber consumed daily by including a sufficient amount of fiber-rich foods in your diet - fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals and bread.
Drinking enough water to avoid dehydration.
Exercise – such as walking or jogging.
Developing the habit of going to the toilet at the same time.
You should not put off going to the toilet when you have the urge to have a bowel movement.
When using wet wipes, you should avoid those that contain fragrances or alcohols, as they may cause discomfort or itching.
When using toilet paper, you should give preference to soft types.
You should wash the perineum and anal area with warm water several times a day, especially after bowel movements, to relax the anal muscles, increase blood flow and cleanse without rubbing or irritating the skin.

Doctors may also prescribe a variety of medications to treat fissures around the anus in adults to help relieve symptoms and allow them to heal faster.

Laxatives

These help make bowel movements easier. In adults, to treat anal fissures, laxatives are used to increase the volume of stool. They help retain more fluid in the intestinal lumen, which makes the stool soft and bulky.

The doctor may recommend a low starting dose of the laxative, gradually increasing it over several days until the patient is passing soft stools every 1 to 2 days. Cured constipation is the key to getting rid of fissures quickly.

Painkillers

If a person experiences prolonged pain after defecation, the doctor may prescribe painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

Nitroglycerin ointment

If your anal fissure symptoms do not improve within 1 to 2 weeks, your doctor may prescribe nitroglycerin as an ointment to treat, which should be applied directly to the anal area, usually twice daily. Nitroglycerin dilates the blood vessels in and around the anus, which helps improve blood supply to the tissues and promotes faster healing of the fissure. It also reduces pressure in the anal canal, which should help relieve pain.

Most acute anal fissures that last less than 6 weeks heal with nitroglycerin ointment. For chronic cracks, the effectiveness of this drug is about 70%.

Since nitroglycerin is absorbed into the systemic circulation through the hemorrhoidal veins when nitroglycerin is used to treat anal fissures, many patients may develop headaches. Some people may also feel dizzy. In such cases, it is necessary to reduce the amount of ointment applied.

Sometimes using a smaller amount 5-6 times a day is easier to tolerate than applying a larger amount twice a day.

Local anesthetics

If a patient with a fissure has severe pain in the anus, the doctor may prescribe local anesthetics in the form of ointments or suppositories for treatment. They are recommended to be used immediately before bowel movement. The ointment should be applied directly to the affected area.

Medicines used to treat anal fissure are also often prescribed for exacerbation of hemorrhoids. These drugs do not speed up the healing of the crack, but relieve pain. As a rule, they are used in the first 1-2 weeks.

Sometimes a small amount of a hormonal agent is also added to the ointment with a local anesthetic, which reduces inflammation. The use of such ointments should last no longer than 2 weeks, as they can lead to thinning of the skin in the damaged area.

Calcium channel blockers

Typically used to treat hypertension. However, these medicines, applied directly to the anal area, are also useful for anal fissures. They relax the sphincter muscles and improve blood supply to damaged tissues.

Side effects of calcium channel blockers may include headaches, dizziness, and itching or a burning sensation where the drug is applied. They usually go away within a few days of use, as the patient's body gradually gets used to the treatment.

Topical calcium channel blockers are considered as effective as nitroglycerin and can treat rectal fissures when other medications have failed.

Botulinum toxin injections

This is a relatively new method of treating anal fissures, which, as a rule, is used when all other methods of conservative therapy are ineffective. Botulinum toxin is a very strong poison that can be safely used in small doses.

In case of anal fissure, its injection causes paralysis of the sphincter muscles. This prevents their spasm, helps reduce pain and speeds up the healing of the crack. The toxin is injected into the external and internal sphincters, as well as into the fissure itself.

Doctors say botulinum toxin injections help more than half of patients. Its effect lasts 2-3 months, which is enough for the crack to heal. The main side effect of this treatment is weakness of the sphincter muscles, which is manifested by fecal incontinence, which, as a rule, is temporary.

A person treating anal fissures at home should visit a doctor regularly to assess the progress of recovery. If conservative methods are ineffective, consultation with a proctologist and surgical treatment may be necessary.

Surgeries are considered the most effective method, as doctors say, they can cure more than 90% of patients with anal fissure. However, like any surgical procedure, these operations are accompanied by a small risk of complications.

For anal fissures, the following operations are performed:

Lateral sphincterotomy. The procedure involves making a small incision in the ring of sphincter muscles surrounding the rectum. This helps relieve pressure inside the anus and allows the anal fissure to heal, and also reduces the risk of recurrence of the disease. This operation does not last long, it is relatively simple and is usually performed under general anesthesia. Lateral sphincterotomy is one of the most effective treatments for anal fissures, with most patients making a full recovery within 2-4 weeks. With this operation, due to damage to the anal muscles, 5% of patients may develop temporary fecal incontinence. However, this complication is not severe and lasts only a few weeks.
Excision of anal fissure. This technique is used for chronic anal fissures.

Sometimes proctologists cover the surface of the crack with a flap of skin taken from a healthy area of the patient’s body. This improves blood supply to damaged tissues and promotes healing.

Treatment of anal fissures in children

Rectal fissures in children are quite common, so many parents are interested in how to treat them.

As a rule, treatment of fissures in the anus in children is based on the same principles as in adults. It is also aimed at eliminating constipation and softening stools. This is achieved by introducing more fiber into the diet (provided the child’s age allows) and increasing water consumption.

All tips for non-drug treatment of fissures in the anus in an adult patient can also be applied to a child. These include baths with warm water, physical exercise, and developing the habit of going to the toilet at a certain time in comfortable conditions.

Drug treatment of anal fissures in children is carried out only on the recommendations of doctors.

Most often they prescribe:

Laxatives. For young children, unlike adults, osmotic laxatives are more often recommended, which increase the amount of liquid in the stool, thereby softening the stool and increasing its volume. The dose of drugs is calculated based on the baby’s weight.
Nitroglycerin ointment.
Calcium channel blockers.
Ointments with local anesthetics.
Botulinum toxin injections. They are used only in extreme cases, for large and non-healing cracks, since the injection sites and dosage of this drug in children have not yet been precisely established.

For anal fissures in children, surgical interventions are performed very rarely - in cases of ineffectiveness of conservative treatment and chronic fissures. The most commonly used methods are lateral sphincterotomy and excision of chronic fissures.

Treatment of anal fissures in pregnant women

If fissures in the anus occur during pregnancy, treatment is based on non-drug recommendations. For example, doctors advise these women to eat fiber-rich foods, drink plenty of water, exercise, and take sitz baths.

If these measures are insufficiently effective, it is possible to use local anesthetics in the form of ointments and mild laxatives. It is better to refrain from using nitroglycerin ointment during pregnancy.

Surgical treatment of fissures in the anus is usually carried out after childbirth if conservative therapy is ineffective.

Traditional treatment of anal fissures

The most common traditional medicine used to treat rectal fissures:

Olive oil. Rich in healthy fats that lubricate the surface of the intestines and facilitate bowel movements. It can be administered directly into the rectum in an amount of 50 ml. Also, a mixture of olive oil, honey and beeswax relieves pain, reduces bleeding and itching in the affected area. To obtain this mixture, the ingredients must be mixed in a bowl in equal proportions, then heated in the microwave until the beeswax completely melts. After the mixture has cooled, it should be applied to the damaged area several times a day.
Aloe. Has healing and anti-inflammatory properties. You need to cut one leaf from the plant, cut it along its entire length and squeeze out the juice. You should then apply a small amount of this juice to the affected area several times a day.
Comfrey. This plant has medicinal properties, promotes healing of anal fissures and relieves pain. Add 1 teaspoon of dried comfrey to 1 cup of hot water, cover and leave for 10-15 minutes, then let cool. This infusion should be used to cleanse the affected area 2-3 times a day.

How to distinguish a fissure from hemorrhoids?

Since hemorrhoids are considered the most common disease of the rectum, many people think that any pain in the anus is caused by them. However, you need to know the differences between hemorrhoids and anal fissure, which is also very common.

It should be noted that with an anal fissure, the first place in the patient’s complaints is acute, cutting pain that appears or intensifies after defecation. With ordinary hemorrhoids, people often complain of blood discharge during bowel movements. Also, with this disease, hemorrhoids often fall out of the anus, which makes it possible to distinguish it from anal fissures.

However, severe pain with hemorrhoids can develop when hemorrhoids thrombose. The pain in this case is very severe and constant.

A doctor can establish the correct diagnosis and give the correct recommendations, and you should contact him. In addition, it should be remembered that the presence of hemorrhoids does not deny the presence of an anal fissure, but, on the contrary, contributes to its appearance.

Anal fissures are a very common cause of pain in the anus. To treat it, it is necessary to eliminate constipation and reduce pain during bowel movements. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical intervention is performed.