Causes
|
Suggestive findings
|
Diagnostic approach
|
Treatment
|
Anorectal
Disorders
|
Inflammatory bowel disease
|
- Abdominal pain.
- Diarrhea (secretory, mucoid,or bloody).
- Weight loss.
- Perianal pruritis.
|
- Physical examination.
- Antinuclear antibodies.
- Sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy.
|
- Sulfasalazine, mesalamine.
- Oral steroids.
- Antibiotics (e.g, metronidiazole).
- Azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine.
- Infliximab, adalimumab, etc.
|
Hemorrhoids(internal or external)
|
- Bright red blood on toilet paper/stool.
- Pain with defecation.
- Painful lump in the anal area.
- Perianal pruritis.
|
- Physical examination.
- Anoscopy/sigmoidoscopy.
|
- Psyllium, methylcellulose.
- Surgery.
|
Anal fissure
|
- Bright red blood on toilet paper/stool.
- Pain with defecation.
- Perianal pruritus.
- Anal tears.
|
- Physical examination reveals anal lacerations.
|
- Topical anesthetics.
- Psyllium, methycellulose.
|
Skin
infections
|
Bacterial
|
- Skin edema, erythema, and warmth.
- Pruritus, pain, and discharge from the lesions.
|
- Physical examination reveals local inflammatory findings.
- Culture/sensitivity of discharge
|
- Topical or oral antibiotics.
|
Candidal
|
- Erythematous skin plaques and erosions with peripheral scaling.
- Pruritus on the skin plaques.
|
- KOH preparation of skin scrapings.
|
|
Scabies
|
- Erythematous papules with hemorrhagic crustings.
- Pruritus, pain, and bleeding from papules.
|
- Identification of eggs on skin scrapings.
|
- Topical permethrin.
- Oral ivermectin.
|
HPV
(Condylomata
acuminata)
|
- Soft papules/plaques in the anogenital area.
- Pruritus, pain, and bleeding from papules.
|
- Physical examination.
- Shave biopsy of the lesion.
|
- Topical trichloroacetic acid.
- Topical imiquimod.
- Cryotherapy or surgical resection.
|
Skin disorders
|
Atopic dermatitis
|
- Erythematous, pruritic, scaly skin lesions.
|
|
- Topical emollients.
- Topical steroids.
|
Seborrheic dermatitis
|
- Erythematous, yellow, oily plaques.
- Mild pruritus.
|
|
- Topical emollients.
- Topical steroids.
- Topical ketoconazole.
|
Contact dermatitis
|
- Erythematous, pruritic skin lesion.
|
|
- Avoid irritants.
- Topical steroids.
|
Lichen planus
|
- Pruritic, purple, polygonal plaques or papules.
|
- Physical examination.
- Punch/shave biopsy
|
- Topical steroids.
- Phototherapy.
|
Lichen sclerosis
|
- Vulvular/anal pruritis and thinning of the skin.
|
- Physical examination.
- Punch/shave biopsy
|
|
Perianal carcinoma (Bowen disease or Paget's disease)
|
- Rectal bleeding.
- Perianal pruritus.
- Eczematous plaque.
- Rectal mass.
|
- Physical examination.
- Sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy.
- CT/PET scan.
|
|
Hygiene
Related problems
|
Excessive sweating and Poor cleaning
|
- Wearing tight undergarments or synthetic clothes.
|
- Exclusion of medical causes.
|
- Use of cotton undergarments.
- Frequently changing undergarments.
|
Meticulous cleansing of anal area
|
- Inappropriate cleansing practices.
|
- Exclusion of medical causes.
|
- Patient education and change of practice.
|
Skin irritants
|
- Use of ointments, soaps, sanitary wipes.
|
- Exclusion of medical causes.
|
- Avoidance of the irritant use.
|