A small tear in the thin, moist tissue (mucosa) that lines the anus is referred to as an anal fissure. When you pass hard or large stools during a bowel movement, you may develop an anal fissure in the process.

In this article, Dr Dipesh Thacker who provides fissure treatment in Bhuj, Gujarat shares his expertise on “What are the symptoms and causes of Anal fissure?”.

Dr Dipesh Thacker, one of the best Ayurvedic surgeons in Bhuj, Gujarat, founded Akshar hospital to provide world-class treatments at an affordable cost. The hospital is equipped with the latest medical equipment and sophisticated diagnostic tools.

At Akshar Hospital, we offer excellent ayurvedic fissure treatment in Bhuj, Gujarat, ensuring the prevention of recurrence and minimal side effects. We lay great emphasis on our patient’s satisfaction, safety, and ethical medical practice.

Symptoms

Anal fissures are characterized by the following signs and symptoms:

• Pain, which can be severe at times, occurs during bowel motions.
• Constipation pain that might continue for several hours following a bowel movement.
• Following a bowel movement, bright crimson blood may be found in the stool or on the toilet paper.
• The presence of a noticeable crack in the skin surrounding the anus
• In the area of the anal fissure, there is a little lump or skin tag on the skin.

When should you visit the doctor?

Consult your doctor if you have discomfort during bowel movements or detect blood on stools or toilet paper after having a bowel movement, among other symptoms.

Causes:

The following are some of the most common causes of anal fissure:

• Passing big or difficult-to-pass stools
• Constipation and straining during bowel motions 
• Diarrhea on a regular basis
• Interaction between the sexes
• Childbirth

Anal fissures can be caused by a variety of less common factors, including:

• Crohn’s disease or another inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic condition that affects the digestive tract.
• The malignancy of the anal stoma
• HIVsTuberculosis
• Syphilis

Factors that increase risk

Anal fissures are caused by a variety of factors, the most significant of which are as follows:

Constipation: During bowel motions, straining is necessary, and passing firm stools increases the risk of ripping.

Childbirth: The incidence of anal fissures increases in females after they give birth.

Crohn’s disease: It is a digestive disorder. Because of the continuous inflammation of the digestive system caused by this inflammatory bowel disease, the lining of the anal canal may become more sensitive to ripping.

Age: Anal fissures can occur at any age, but they are more common in infants and middle-aged people than in any other age group says, Dipesh Thacker a top Ayurvedic Surgeon in Bhuj.

Complications:

According to Dipesh Thacker one of the leading Ayurvedic Surgeon from Bhuj, Gujarat notes that Anal fissure complications can include the following:

The inability to heal. An anal fissure that does not heal after eight weeks is called chronic, and it may necessitate further medical intervention.

Recurrence: If you’ve had an anal fissure in the past, you’re more likely to have another one in the future.

A rip that extends to the muscles surrounding it. It is possible for an anal fissure to expand into the ring of muscle that keeps your anus closed (internal anal sphincter), which makes it more difficult for your anal fissure to mend completely. 

Having an unhealed fissure can cause a vicious cycle of agony, requiring drugs or surgical intervention to alleviate the discomfort while also repairing or removing the fissure.

Treatment:

Take steps to keep your stool soft, such as increasing your fiber and fluid intake, and your anal fissures should heal in a matter of weeks. 

It is recommended to soak in warm water for 10 to 20 minutes many times a day, particularly after bowel motions, in order to relax the sphincter and encourage healing.

If your symptoms continue, you will almost certainly require more treatment.

Your doctor may advise you to do the following:

• Nitroglycerin is given externally to aid in the increase of blood flow to the fissure and the promotion of healing, as well as the relaxation of the anal sphincter.
•  Nitroglycerin is widely regarded as the medical therapy of choice when other conservative approaches have failed to provide satisfactory results.
• Pain alleviation may be achieved with the use of topical anesthetic creams such as lidocaine hydrochloride (Xylocaine).
• To relax spasms and paralyze the anal sphincter muscle, a botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injection is used.
• These drugs, which can be taken orally or administered externally, can be used when nitroglycerin is ineffective or has major side effects, such as in the case of heart failure.