Facts on fissure
- 20 to 35% of India’s population are reported to have anal fissure.
- Incidence of the fissure is highly observed in the urban and suburban population (18% vs 12%).
- The prevalence of anal fissure is slightly higher in males than in females.
- Anal fissures can most commonly be found among people aged between 15 to 40 years.
Who is prone to developing an anal fissure?
Anal fissures can develop in people at any age. However, younger people are more at risk as they have a tight anal sphincter. The chances of developing an anal fissure decrease as people get older. People who have had fissures in the past are more likely to have them again in the future.
What are the causes of anal fissures?
Anal fissure can develop when the blood flow in the anal region reduces and the mucous lining surrounding the anus becomes dry. The main causes of anal fissure include:
- Constipation
- Straining during bowel movements
- Persistent diarrhea
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Sexually transmitted diseases/infections
- Underlying conditions like Crohn’s disease
- Muscle spasms
What are the home remedies for anal fissure?
You can try out the following home remedies to treat fissures at home
- Increase fiber intake in your diet
- Drink enough water or fluids
- Avoid straining during bowel movements
- Use laxatives and stool softeners as prescribed by doctors
When do you need to see a doctor for anal fissure?
Most people have an acute anal fissure that often dissappears by using certain home remedies. However, in severe cases of chronic fissure, home remedies may fail to treat the symptoms. You should consider consulting a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Pain during and after bowel movements that last for hours
- Blood in stools, tissue paper or wipes
- Visible crack or tear in the anal lining
- Itching, irritation, and burning sensations in the anal region
- Discomfort during urination (in some cases)
What are the advantages of undergoing a laser surgery for anal fissure?
Laser surgery for anal fissure is considered the safest, painless and most effective treatment. During the procedure, the patient is put under the influence of general anesthesia and, if necessary, a small section of the sphincter muscle is removed to reduce the spasm and provide relief. It improves the blood flow in the anal region and allows the fissure to heal completely at a quick pace. The benefits of undergoing a laser surgery are:
- It is a non-invasive procedure and involves no cuts or stitches
- Minimal blood loss
- Short procedure: takes about 30-40 minutes
- Recovery is quick
- Chances of recurrence are reduced to a greater extent
- Minimal post-surgery complications
Why choose Pristyn Care to undergo laser fissure surgery in Mumbai?
At Pristyn Care in Mumbai, you can avail the safest, effective and most advanced fissure treatment at an affordable cost.
- We house some of the best fissure specialists in Mumbai, who have years of experience in performing laser fissure surgeries with a success rate above 94%.
- Proctologists/General Surgeons working with Pristyn Care do a thorough consultation in the case of every patient to understand their condition and then determine the best approach for your fissure treatment.
- To ease out your commuting process, we also provide free cab facilities to bring you from home to the hospital and help you return back after the surgery.
- Pristyn Care strives to make the whole surgical experience for every patient a seamless one. A dedicated ‘care buddy’ is assigned to every patient on the day of the surgery to provide the patient with a hassle-free experience to take care of all the formalities and paperworks on your behalf.
- A free-of-cost follow up is provided to every patient within the first seven days of the surgery.
How to book an appointment with proctologists in Pristyn Care, Mumbai?
Pristyn Care ensures that every patient has a care-filled and hassle-free experience. Being one of the leading health tech startups in India dedicated to simplifying the surgical experience of every patient, we provide end-to-end facilities to our patients and give complete assistance in their treatment journey. You can book an appointment and get in touch with our doctors virtually from the comfort of your home or anywhere by dialing on the given numbers or by filling up the ‘Book Appointment’ form.
How to relieve fissure itching?
Here are a few simple tips that can help you relieve fissure itching:
- Don’t scratch the fissure area. Scratching may irritate the skin. To find relief from the condition, you can apply compression to the area or take an oatmeal bath. You may want to scratch the area while in your sleep, so you should trim your nails to prevent hurting your area.
- Wear breathable cotton underwear. Wearing cotton undergarments will help you keep your area dry. Avoid wearing pantyhose and tight fit inner garments because it may trap moisture and irritate the skin.
- Clean your anal area gently – Use clean lukewarm plain water to your clean your anus. Use non-irritating mild soap. Do not scrub the area near your anal fissure. Make sure to clean the area with moist cotton balls or plain water if you have diarrhea or incontinence.
- Avoid irritants – Do not use anything like perfumed soaps, bubble baths, genital deodorats, or harsh wipes in and around your anal fissure. If you need to clean your fissure area, use unscented toilet paper.
- Watch your diet – Cut down on your intake of coffee, cola, spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes or any food that may cause diarrhea. Don’t indulge in laxative overuse
- Use gels and ointments – You can use zinc oxide gels or ointments, vaseline petroleum jelly or hydrocortisone cream to find quick relief from the itching and irritating symptoms.
- Maintain firm bowel movements – Adding a lot of fiber to your regular diet can help you pass soft and timely bowel movements. For smooth bowel movements, you can also take help of fiber supplements such as psyllium (Metamucil) and methylcellulose (Citrucel).
What is the difference between anal fissure and anal fistula?
Anal fissure and anal fistula are two very common anorectal diseases. An anal fissure is a condition where an tear or a crack appearns in the skin near the anus. On the other hand, anal fistulas are tube-like passages that appears in the anal canal or the inner rectum. Most anal fissures are like paper cuts and ususally get healed within a few weeks. If left untreated, both anal fissure and anal fistula can develop into worse conditions. Untreated fistulas can even branch off into multiple openings.
The symptoms exhibited by both the conditions are very similar to each other. Pain in the anal area, discomfort while seating at the toilet seat and pain while passing a bowel movement, and blood in stools are some of the common symptoms for both anal fissure and anal fistula. But anal fistulas may also include pus secretion from the anal area, an extra opening near the anus or an increase in diarrhea.
Although different in nature, both the conditions require medical intervention. An anal fissure or anal fistula can be treated by a proctologist or an anorectal/ colorectal surgeon. At initial stages, both the diseases can be managed with medicines. But to treat the condition permanently, one would require a surgical approach, which can be done either through open surgery or laser surgery.
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