What is the cause of the swelling of the anus?

People excrete waste that is no longer needed after eating and is absorbed by the body through the anus, so the anus is very important to everyone. Some people may feel a heaviness in their anus. This may be due to hemorrhoids or prolapse in the anus, which can cause people to feel a heaviness. Let’s take a look at what causes anal swelling.

What is anal swelling?

Generally speaking, patients with anal prolapse often go to the toilet frequently, but they still feel heavy after defecation, so they are very painful. Some patients with anal swelling may also experience a burning sensation, which is even more uncomfortable. From the perspective of modern medicine, anal prolapse can be caused by a variety of diseases and is a symptom that cannot be ignored.

Anal swelling is a warning sign of anorectal disease. Experts say that anal distension is often a complication of anorectal diseases, usually with distension and pain, no fever, no redness or swelling of the anus, normal stool characteristics, and unobstructed excretion, but a feeling that the stool is not completely discharged and frequent urge to defecate. Frequent recurrences last for days, months, years, and are difficult to treat, seriously affecting the patient's quality of life.

There are many diseases that can cause anal distension clinically, mainly the following:

1. Anal sinusitis

Anal sinusitis is the most common cause of anal heaviness. In addition, inflammation of the anal sinuses and anal valves is also called anal cryptitis, which can further develop into perianal abscesses.

2. Anorectal infection

In particular, high-positioned abscesses above the levator ani muscles occupy space and expand at the bottom of the pelvic cavity, stimulating the surrounding nerve tissue and causing a feeling of heaviness and distension in the anus.

3. Rectal mucosal prolapse

It can also be called "rectal prolapse". Rectal prolapse refers to a disease in which the mucosal layer or the entire layer of the rectum, anal canal and lower sigmoid colon prolapses outside the anus. But what we are talking about here is "rectal mucosal prolapse", in which the rectal mucosa is loose and accumulates in the rectum, but has not yet prolapsed out of the anus, which can cause a feeling of heaviness and distension in the anus and a feeling of incomplete defecation.

4. Proctitis

If chronic colitis affects the rectum, there may be a feeling of anal prolapse and increased frequency of bowel movements. The disease usually lasts for a long time, with repeated attacks and varying degrees of severity.

5. Rectal cancer

Rectal cancer is a hidden disease and is difficult to detect in the early stages. Patients may experience symptoms such as anal prolapse, increased frequency of bowel movements, and a feeling of incomplete bowel movements. They should be vigilant, get checked and treated promptly.

6. Male prostate disease. Tumor or prostatitis.

7. Increased intraspinal pressure caused by sacral lesions, sacral canal tumors or cysts.

When a feeling of anal prolapse occurs, one cannot draw conclusions based on this symptom alone. Instead, one should go to a regular hospital in time to see a professional anorectal doctor for a careful examination, further clarify the diagnosis, and targeted treatment to achieve the best treatment effect. Let’s take a look at how to treat anal swelling.

How to treat anal swelling

Because patients with anal swelling are at risk of suffering from anorectal inflammation, as long as symptoms of anal swelling appear, they should seek medical attention early and go to the anorectal department of the hospital for examination, clear diagnosis, and prompt treatment to avoid worsening of the condition.

Even inflammatory diseases such as anal sinusitis should be treated promptly, otherwise there is a possibility of developing more serious diseases such as anal canal inflammation, perianal swelling and anal fistula.

However, it must be pointed out that if anal swelling occurs after injection, ligation, or band ligation of internal hemorrhoids, it is a transient normal reaction. As time goes by and the wound gradually heals, the anal swelling will eventually disappear naturally.