What are the symptoms of high anal fistula?

High anal fistula is an anorectal disease. The formation of anal fistula is related to the hygiene around the anus. If it causes repeated infections around the anus, it will cause cyst rupture, or ulcerative colitis, bloodstream infection of rectal anal canal cancer, all of which may cause anal fistula. The main symptoms of anal fistula are pus discharge, swelling, pain, and itching. So I remind everyone to maintain good personal hygiene.

Overview

High anal fistula refers to the fistula and its branches above the levator ani muscle and the anorectal ring, which is called anal leakage in traditional Chinese medicine. This disease can occur in people of all ages and genders, but is more common in young and middle-aged men. Anal fistula is a common anorectal disease with an incidence rate of 1.67% to 2.6%. Among them, high-position anal fistula is the most difficult to treat and is one of the most difficult diseases to treat in anorectal surgery, with a recurrence rate of about 10%.

Due to the special anatomical and physiological environment of the perianal area, once a high anal fistula occurs, it often leads to repeated perianal infection, swelling, pain and scar formation. When pus breaks through the tube wall and spreads along the sphincter gap, it can lead to serious complications such as multiple complex anal fistulas, rectovaginal fistulas, rectourethral fistulas and rectovesical fistulas, which will eventually affect the normal physiological functions of surrounding organs and even seriously threaten the patient's life safety due to sepsis infection.

Clinical manifestations

1. Pus

Intermittent or persistent purulent discharge from the anus,

2. Swelling and pain

There is generally no pain, only a feeling of heaviness or pain at the anus. The swelling and pain will be relieved immediately when the pus is drained smoothly. Sometimes the pain may be caused by the large internal opening, and stool may flow into the tube, especially during defecation.

3. Itching

The continuous outflow of pus or secretions irritates the perianal skin and causes moisture and itching, sometimes accompanied by perianal eczema.

4. Systemic symptoms

High anal fistula recurs repeatedly, causing long-term discharge of pus and blood, and may cause symptoms such as weight loss and mental depression. The pus of tuberculous anal fistula is mostly thin, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as flushing of the cheeks and low fever. If the external opening is temporarily closed and pus accumulates, local swelling and pain may occur, and may be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever and chills. After the external opening breaks and pus flows out, the symptoms may quickly ease or disappear.

diagnosis

1. Anorectal digital examination: Digital examination can often feel mild tenderness at the inner opening, but due to the high position of the fistula in high-positioned complex anal fistula, the cord-like object is often not palpable under the perianal skin.

2. Probe examination: Probe examination combined with anorectal digital examination can help find the location of the internal opening, estimate the direction and length of the fistula, the height of the fistula, and its relationship with the sphincter.