There are plenty of differences between the two conditions. Anal fissure and abscesses should never be confused for being one in the same. Abscesses are localized pockets of pus that are generally brought on by bacterial infection. Abscess can occur in any part of the body. As the bacteria sinks into the tissues in the anal canal abscesses can develop.
Who Can Get Abscesses
Those who have conditions that weaken the body’s immune system such as cancer or HIV/AIDS are more likely to get anal abscesses. It is important to note that abscesses can cause tenderness, swelling, and pain in the affected area. Patients have also complained of fevers, chills, and weakness or fatigue. Most symptoms clear once the abscess has been drained.
What is an Anal Fissure?
A fistula or fissure on the other hand is a small tract that is created when inflammation is present in the body. In some cases however, fistulas can develop as a result of an infection. They are not always associated with abscesses. However, there are diseases such as Chron’s Disease that makes it more likely for fissures to develop.
Unlike abscesses that develop in the area that has been affected, fistulas can develop elsewhere in the body. For instance if a woman is suffering from obstetric injuries, fistulas can start opening up on the bladder and the vagina and not necessarily in the anal region. Like abscesses, fistulas must be drained. However, they don’t cause as much pain and only have the risk of irritating the skin.
Why is There Confusion About the Two?
Abscesses and fistulas can occur together. If a fistula opening heals before it is actually cured, an abscess can begin to grow behind it. In order to get diagnosed you will need to go to a doctor who will then examine the affected area. When the abscess or fistula is near the anus it will be very painful and cause swelling and redness which can be relieved through home remedies.
To be diagnosed the physician will need to look for openings in the skin and discern how deep they are and the direction of the fistula. If a fistula or abscess is not present on the surface of the skin, the physician may have to do a bit more research. They may need to utilize an anoscope so that they can look inside the anal canal and lower rectum to see if they can detect something. From there a method for draining or removing the fistula or abscess will be determined.
As you can see the differences are very small. However, you should never try and self diagnose yourself when dealing with fistulas or abscesses. It is always better that the moment you realize something is going wrong that you reach out to a medical professional for advice. Trying to treat yourself could cause risk of infection or other complications. Talk with your doctor about treatment options and remedies to prevent either from happening in the future.