Anal fistula (patient information)

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Jinhui Wu, MD

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How do I know if I have anal fistula and what are the symptoms of anal fistula?

Patients with anal fistula may experience the following symptoms:

• Pain
• Discharge, either bloody or purulent
• Pruritus ani
• Fatigue
• Irritation of skin around the anus
• Visible redness and swelling
• If fistula becomes infected, fever and chills

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Who is at risk for anal fistula?

The following factors increase your chance of developing an anal fistula. If you have any of these risk factors, discuss them with your doctor:

• Colitis or other inflammatory bowel disease, for example Crohn's disease
• Gender: male

How to know you have anal fistula?

• Physical examination: Diagnosis of a fistula is usually made on examination of the area. If it is near the anus, the physician will look for an opening in the skin (a sign that a fistula has developed), and try to determine the depth and direction of the channel or tract of the fistula.
• Anoscope: If signs of fistula may not be present on the skin's surface around the anus, the doctor uses an instrument called an anoscope to see inside the anal canal and lower rectum.
• Blood tests, x-rays, and a colonoscopy: Whenever the physician finds a fistula, further tests such as blood tests, x-rays, and a colonoscopy are needed to be sure Crohn's disease is not present.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if symptoms of anal fistula develop. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:

• Discharge a lot of blood.
• Fever and chills

Where to find medical care for anal fistula?

Directions to Hospitals Treating anal fistula

Prevention of anal fistula

There are no known ways to prevent anal fistula because the cause of the original infection of anal glands is unknown.

Copyleft Sources

http://www.gicare.com/diseases/Anal-fissure.aspx

http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_abscess_fistula/

http://www.answers.com/topic/anal-fistula

http://www.mayoclinic.org/anal-fistula/