Anal abscesses are no joke to have.

They are very painful collections of pus that develop around the anus. Most of these abscesses result from infection from the anal glands in your body.

One of the most commonly known abscesses is perianal. They appear in a boil-like form and swell around the anus. They can be very sore to the touch and red.

The most common form of treatment for anal abscesses is surgical incision and drainage, which is usually successful. Unfortunately, about 50% of patients will suffer from fistulas due to the abscess being drained. Fistulas are small tunnels that connect where the spot is and the skin.

Some patients experience persistent draining from anal fistulas, and others receive more anal abscesses.

What Causes Anal Abscesses?

There are plenty of different reasons that someone could develop an anal abscess. Some causes include sexually transmitted infections, blocked anal glands, and an infection of the anal fissure, a small skin tear 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, and 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, mainly when it includes anal intercourse. To prevent a spot from occurring in young children and toddlers, you should change their diapers timely and clean them well after each change.

Symptoms of an Anal Abscess

Most patients who suffer from anal abscesses complain about pain described as constant throbbing that worsens when sitting, irritation of the skin around the anus that includes tenderness, redness, 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, chills, malaise, and fevers.

Getting Diagnosed with an Anal Abscess

You must complete a clinical evaluation to be correctly diagnosed as having an anal abscess. This will likely include a digital rectal exam. However, additional tests may be required to rule out other possibilities.

Those screenings include sexually transmitted infections, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or rectal cancer. The doctor may also need 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. It might be easily removed with local anesthetics at your doctor’s office for superficial abscesses. However, larger or deeper bumps may require you to be hospitalized and put under with the assistance of an anesthesiologist.

Once you’ve received treatment, you will likely be prescribed medication for pain relief.

Getting treatment for your abscess is essential as you don’t want them to burst independently.

It could cause more damage leaving you with infections and other medical complications.