Anal Abscess and Fistula Facts
A patient who feels ill and complains of chills, fever, and pain in the rectum or anus could be suffering from an anal abscess or fistula. These medical terms describe common ailments about which many people know little.
What is an anal abscess?
An anal abscess is an infected cavity filled with pus found near the anus or rectum.
What is an anal fistula?
An anal fistula, almost always the result of a previous abscess, is a small tunnel connecting the anal gland from which the abscess arose to the skin of the buttocks outside the anus.
What causes an abscess?
An abscess results from an acute infection of a small gland just inside the anus, when bacteria or foreign matter enters the tissue through the gland. Certain conditions – colitis or other inflammation of the intestine, for example – can sometimes make these infections more likely.
What causes a fistula?
After an abscess has been drained, a tunnel may persist, connecting the anal gland from which the abscess arose to the skin. If this occurs, persistent drainage from the outside opening may indicate the persistence of this tunnel. If the external opening of the tunnel heals, recurrent abscess may develop.
What are the symptoms of an abscess or fistula?
Symptoms of both ailments include constant pain, sometimes accompanied by swelling that is not necessarily related to bowel movements. Other symptoms include irritation of the skin around the anus, drainage of pus (which often relieves the pain), fever, and feeling poorly in general.
Painful swelling in the anal area is often thought to be a hemorrhoid but can be an abscess. It is essential to seek medical care to have the area examined so you can be placed on the best treatment.
Does an abscess always become a fistula?
No. A fistula develops in about 50 percent of all abscess cases, and there is no way to predict if this will occur.
How is an abscess treated?
Treating an abscess is done by draining the pus from the infected cavity, making an opening in the skin near the anus to relieve the pressure. Often, this can be done in the doctor’s office using a local anesthetic. A broad or deep abscess may require hospitalization and the use of a different anesthetic method. Admission may also be necessary for patients prone to more severe infections, such as people with diabetes or people with decreased immunity. Antibiotics are not usually an alternative to draining the pus, because they are carried by the bloodstream and do not penetrate the fluid within an abscess.
What about treatment for a fistula?
Surgery is necessary to cure an anal fistula. Although fistula surgery is usually relatively straightforward, the potential for complications exists, and the operation is preferably performed by a specialist in colon and rectal surgery. It may be performed at the same time as the abscess surgery, although fistulae often develop four to six weeks after an abscess is drained sometimes even months or years later. Fistula surgery usually involves cutting a small portion of the anal sphincter muscle to open the tunnel, joining the external and internal opening, and converting the tunnel into a groove that will then heal from within outward. Most of the time, fistula surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis – or with a short hospital stay.
How long does it take before patients feel better?
Discomfort after fistula surgery can be mild to moderate for the first week and is controllable with pain pills. The amount of time lost from work or school is usually minimal. Treatment of an abscess or fistula is followed by time at home when soaking the affected area in warm water (sitz bath) is recommended three or four times a day. Stool softeners may also be necessary. It may be required to wear a gauze pad or mini-pad to prevent the drainage from soiling clothes. Bowel movements will not affect healing.
What are the chances of a recurrence of an abscess or fistula?
If properly healed, the problem will usually not return. However, it is essential to follow the directions of a colon and rectal surgeon to prevent a recurrence.