People have experienced a tear or fissure at the corner of the mouth that can occur in cold weather or when yawning. Similarly, an anal fissure is a small tear in the lining of the anus.

A fissure can be quite painful during and immediately following bowel movements. This is because the anus and anal canal are ringed with muscles to control the passage of stool and to keep the anus tightly closed at other times. When those muscles expand, it stretches the fissure open. There may also be bleeding or itching with an anal fissure.

Causes For Anal Fissure

• A hard, dry bowel movement results in a break in the tissue.
• Fissures can also occur with severe bouts of diarrhea or inflammation. This results in the anus becoming dry and irritated, causing it to tear.
• Injury to the anal area during childbirth
• Abuse of laxatives may be other causes.

Symptoms of Anal Fissure

• Pain in the anal area, often described as sharp, searing or burning, and usually triggered by a large, hard bowel movement.
• Mild rectal bleeding, typically appearing as a small amount of bright red blood spotting or streaking toilet paper after a bowel movement
• Anal Itching.
• A firm, tender mass or swelling in the anal area, which may be so large that it pushes the anal opening to one side.
• Throbbing pain near the anus that may worsen with walking

When to Visit a Doctor?

If you have any of the symptoms,visit a doctor a Primary Care Physician or to a Colon & Rectal Specialist immediately.The doctor will perform a brief physical examination of your abdomen, followed by an external examination of your anal area and a digital rectal examination. Your doctor may perform Anoscopy too(insertion of a tubelike instrument into the anus to look inside the anal canal).

Visiting a doctor is very important. Acute Fissure can be treated easily. If left unattened it may develop to Chronic fissure. So if u have any of the symptoms visit a doctor immediately to correct the problem.

How to Prevent Anal Fissure?

By preventing Constipation & having a normal,regular bowel movement, one can prevent Anal Fissure. This can be done by following the following steps.

1. Increasing the Fiber Content in the diet.
2. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.
3. 20 minutes of brisk walking daily.
4. Never postponing the bowel movement.

Treatment for Anal Fissure

Most of the Acute Anal Fissures are treated without surgeries.Stool softeners are used to reduce the pain during bowel development. Antibiotics are used for a short period.some specialised creams are used. Sitz Bath may help to relieve from discomfort & promote healing. A Sitz Bath is soaking the anal area in plain luke warm water for 15 min. This should be done 2 or 3 times a day.

If the fissure is not responding to treatment, the physician re-examines the patient. There are conditions, such as muscle spasm or scarring, that could interfere with the healing process.

Fissures that do not heal can be corrected with surgery. It is a minor operation that is usually done on an outpatient basis. The surgeon removes the fissure and any underlying scar tissue. Cutting a small portion of the anal muscle prevents spasm. This helps the area to heal and rarely interferes with the control of bowel movements. Complete healing takes place in a few weeks. However, the pain often disappears after a few days.

An earlier detected Fissure may be corrected very soon. If it is left unattened it may develoa Anal Abscess & Anal Fistula.

Anal Abscess - An anal abscess is a tight, painful pocket of pus near the anus.Most anal abscesses are located near the opening of the anus but they can occur deeper and higher in the anal canal, closer to the lower colon or pelvic organs.

Anal Abscess Treatment - An anal abscess must be opened by a doctor to drain the pus. This procedure is called incision and drainage, or I&D. This usually can be done as an outpatient procedure, especially if you are young and generally healthy, and your abscess is close to the anal opening.

Anal Fistula - Anal fistula, an uncommon condition, is a communication or tunnel between the anal canal and the outer skin of the anus. It often drains pus or liquid, which can soil or stain clothing and may irritate the outer tissues or cause discomfort

Anal Fistula Treatment - Anal Fistulas are usually treated surgically under regional or spinal anesthesia in the operating room. The Surgery name is Anal Fistulotomy. If the fistula is complex and goes through both anal sphincter muscles, a different, more complex procedure may be necessary. After a fistulotomy, the doctor will prescribe sitz baths and moist dressings to be done 2 or 3 times a day.