What is Anal Fissure?
An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the lower rectum (anus) that causes pain during bowel movements. It is a common condition. Anal fissures do not lead to more serious conditions.
Causes:
- Anal/ peri-anal abscess
- You pass a large stool that stretches the anal canal.
- You are constipated and try to pass a hard stool.
- You have repeated diarrhea.
- Childbirth can also cause trauma to the anal canal. During childbirth, some women develop anal fissures. Fissures can also be caused by digital insertion (as during an examination), foreign body insertion, or anal intercourse
Symptoms:
- Painful defecation, burning while passing stools
- An anal fissure causes a sharp, stinging, or burning pain during a bowel movement. The pain, which can be severe, may last for a few hours.
- Fissures may itch. They often bleed lightly or cause a yellowish discharge. You may see a small spot of bright red blood on toilet tissue or a few drops in the toilet bowl. The blood is separate from the stool. Very dark, tarry stools or dark red blood mixed with stool indicates some other condition, possibly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or colon cancer. You should contact a doctor if you have any bleeding with bowel movements.
- Sometimes an anal fissure may be a painless wound that won't heal and that bleeds intermittently but causes no other symptom
