What is the cause of anal pain and what are the symptoms?

Pain at the anus is a common occurrence in life, for example, hemorrhoids can also cause such symptoms. Friends who have suffered from hemorrhoids know that when hemorrhoids hurt, sometimes they feel very uncomfortable even when sitting down. The common symptoms are swelling, pain and itching in the anus.

1. The pain caused by anal fissure is cyclical and often occurs during or after defecation. It is mainly caused by irritation from feces and expansion of the ulcer fissure. The pain is paroxysmal burning or knife-like pain that can last for several minutes; the pain subsides after the stool passes. In addition, due to the stimulation of defecation, the internal sphincter may be in continuous spasm, causing severe and persistent pain in the ulcer fissure; it can often last for several hours, and the patient is restless and in great pain; in severe cases, the pain can last for more than 24 hours. In addition to pain, anal fissures are often accompanied by symptoms such as bleeding and constipation.

2. Anal sinusitis generally presents with slight pain and heaviness in the anus. During defecation, the stool presses on the inflamed anal sinus, causing burning pain in the anus. If the sphincter contracts due to stimulation, the pain will intensify and radiate to the buttocks and posterior thigh. It is often accompanied by a small amount of purulent or mucous secretion with a foul odor, which may cause moisture, itching and other discomforts around the anus over time.

3. The main symptom of perianal abscess is distension and pain, and the pain is like chicken pecking when pus forms. Due to different factors such as the location of perianal abscess, size of abscess, pathogenic bacteria and patient's body resistance, the symptoms and signs that appear are also different. Common ones include subcutaneous abscess around the anus, ischiorectal abscess, pelvic rectal abscess, retrorectal abscess, and tuberculous abscess. In addition to the different main symptoms, these abscesses generally have fever, chills, constipation, and difficulty urinating. Unlike other parts of the body, more than 90% of perianal abscesses can form anal fistulas.