Anal Fissure

Anal fissures are tears in the anus's skin. The majority of people are affected by it. Infants and middle-aged adults may suffer mostly.

Typically, anal fissure isn't a dangerous condition. Anal fissures that repeat frequently or don't heal quickly, though, might be problematic.

Due to a small cut or tear in the lining of the anus, the patient has severe pain and some bright red bleeding during and after bowel movements.

What are the symptoms? 

• Pain during and after bowel movements. 
• Spasm in the muscle at the opening of the anus, caused by irritation of the tear during a bowel movement. 
• Bright red blood when you have a bowel movement, which you see on the bowel movement, in the toilet water, or on toilet tissue, you have used. 

How is it diagnosed? 

• Physical exam by surgeon. 
• Anoscopy 

How is it treated? 

• Follow your health care provider's instructions for taking stool-softening medications. 
• Use Pain relieving cream or ointment for a few days as recommend your health care provider. 
• Hot bath: taking hot bath with water up as high as your tub allows, and relaxing the anal muscles will allow blood to flow into the area. People have concentrate on relaxing anal muscle, while they are in the tub. Take a bath every three times a day and usually the fissure will heal within four weeks
• Diet: it is very important to increase the amount of fiber in your diet. You can do this by eating more raw fruits and vegetables. 
• Fluids: you also must drink adequate amounts of fluid, up to eight glasses a day. 
• Surgery: if your fissures doses not heal in four weeks or you have had your fissure for a long time you may need surgery. The surgeon will cut the fissure open in a procedure called a sphincterotomy. 

What can I do to help prevent anal fissures? 

The best prevention for anal fissures is to keep your bowel movements soft and to maintain a healthy lower intestinal tract. This includes: 

• Drinking plenty of water. 
• Eating foods high in fiber. 
• Being physically active. 

What is an anal fissure? 

Anal fissures are cracks or tears in the skin around your anus these cracks are usually caused by the passage of a hard stool but also can be caused by persistent diarrhea.

How does it occur? 

A tear may occur when you have: 

• Hard, dry bowel movements. 
• Constipation. 
• Hemorrhoids. 
• Anal surgery. 
• Inflammation of the rectum caused by intestinal problems such as crohn's disease.