An anal fissure is a break or tear in the skin of the anal canal. Anal fissures may be noticed by bright red anal bleeding on toilet paper and undergarments, or sometimes in the toilet. If acute they are painful after defecation, [1] but with chronic fissures, pain intensity often reduces. Anal fissures usually extend from the anal opening and are usually located posteriorly in the midline, probably because of the relatively unsupported nature and poor perfusion of the anal wall in that location. Fissure depth may be superficial or sometimes down to the underlying sphincter muscle.
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expertise on managing health. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you.
Back to Health to A-Z. An anal fistula is a small tunnel that develops between the end of the bowel and the skin near the anus where poo leaves the body. They're usually the result of an infection near the anus causing a collection of pus abscess in the nearby tissue.
An anal fissure is a small, longitudinal tear or defect in the moist layer that lines the anus and the entire back passage. Tear in the anal area can be caused because of an injury caused by passage of hard stools or excessive straining during bowel movement. They are mostly localized to the distal portion of the dentate line. Fissures of anal canal can be classified on the basis of its causes. In acute cases, an anal fissure normally gets healed within 4 to 8 weeks by conventional therapy.