Anal abscesses are no joke to have. They are very painful collections of pus that develop around the anus. Most of these abscesses are a result of infection from the anal glands in your body. One of the most commonly known abscesses is perianals. They appear in a boil like form and swell around the anus. They can be very sore to touch and red in color.

The most common form of treatment for anal abscesses is surgical incision and drainage and in most cases this is successful. Unfortunately however, about 50% of patients will suffer from fistulas as a result of the abscess being drained. Fistulas are small tunnels that create a connection between where the abscess is and the skin. Some patients experience persistent draining from anal fistulas and others end up receiving more anal abscesses.

What Causes Anal Abscesses?
There are plenty of different reasons that someone could develop an anal abscess. Some of the causes include: sexually transmitted infections, blocked anal glands, and an infection of the anal fissure which is a small tear of the skin near the anal canal. Risk factors that increase your chances of developing an anal abscess include: colitis, diabetes, pelvic inflammatory disease, anal sex (the receptive partner), diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Chron’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Occasionally medications such as prednisone can cause abscesses.

Ways to Prevent Anal Abscesses?
The best way to prevent anal abscesses from forming is to use condoms during intercourse, especially when it includes anal intercourse. To prevent abscess from occurring in young children and toddlers you should be sure to change their diapers timely and be sure to clean them well after each change.

Symptoms of an Anal Abscess
Most patients who suffer from anal abscesses complain about things such as pain that is described as constant throbbing that worsens when sitting, irritation of the skin around the anus that includes tenderness, redness, and swelling, discharge of pus, constipation or pain when taking a bowel movement. For those suffering from deeper anal abscesses, symptoms might include all of the above along with chills, malaise, and fevers.

Getting Diagnosed with an Anal Abscess
In order to be properly diagnosed as having an anal abscess you will need to have a clinical evaluation completed. This will likely include a digital rectal exam. However, additional tests may be required to rule out other possibilities. Thos screenings include: sexually transmitted infections, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or rectal cancer. The doctor may also need to utilize an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to determine complications.

Treatment for Anal Abscesses
Once it has been determined that you have an anal abscess surgical drainage will be likely and highly important. For superficial abscesses, it might be easily removed with local anesthetics at your doctors office. However, for larger or deeper abscesses it may require you to be hospitalized and put under with the assistance of an anesthesiologist. Once you’ve received treated you will likely be prescribed medication for pain relief.

Getting treatment for your abscess are important as you don’t want them to burst on their own. It could cause more damage leaving you with infections and other medical complications.