Causes
The individual cause of inflammation of the anus depends on the underlying disease. Often an inflammation of the skin is caused by excessive irritation in the area. In certain sports, for example, the perineal and anal area may be subject to increased stress.
Once the skin is irritated at the site, the symptoms can worsen if the strain continues. If there is usually only a small defect of the skin at the beginning of the irritation, weeping and bleeding wounds can occur after some time. In addition, existing allergies can lead to allergic reactions to chemicals used in the area.
The detergents, shampoos or toilet paper used are often suspected to cause such an allergic reaction. The skin can also be irritated by a lack of hygiene in the affected area. The causes of hemorrhoids, which are basically not an inflammation of the anus but cause similar symptoms, are still relatively unclear.
It seems to be relatively certain that strong pressing during defecation promotes the development of swollen blood vessels. The same is true for the development of anal fissures. In this case a tear of the anus occurs.
Regular constipation is a risk factor for the development of these diseases.By improving the consistency of the stool, the anal fissure can heal by itself. An anal fistula is usually caused by inflammation of glands in the anal region. If an abscess is formed there, it can easily lead to the formation of small ducts which emerge on the surface of the skin of the anus and may cause problems there. Also the presence of chronic diseases of the intestinal tract such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are known to be risk factors for the development of anal fistulas.
Diagnosis
If there are symptoms of inflammation in the anal area, a doctor should be consulted, especially if they have been present for a long time. This is important, because besides harmless skin irritations, serious diseases can also be behind the inflammation. Especially if blood in the stool is present, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.
At the beginning of the diagnosis a detailed anamnesis of the affected person is made. In addition to the exact location and current symptoms, the attending physician is particularly interested in the possible presence of blood in the stool as well as the duration of the symptoms. If it is only mechanical or allergic skin irritation, a dermatologist is the right contact person for the diagnosis.
He or she can usually diagnose a gaze by looking at the affected area and recommend and prescribe certain medications for treatment. A more comprehensive diagnosis is made for diseases such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures and anal fistulas. Although the disease can usually be diagnosed by a purely visual examination of the anus, the severity of the disease usually has to be determined for therapy planning.
In many cases, this can only be determined by extensive diagnostics. In addition to palpation of the anus by the treating physician, diagnostic imaging methods such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging are used. An examination of the intestine from the inside may also be necessary.
Especially if there is blood in the stool, intestinal cancer must first be ruled out as the cause before therapy is started. With the help of a colonoscopy such a diagnosis can be made. In addition, it is possible to look for changes in the intestine which are typical for chronic intestinal diseases. Especially in case of recurring problems, the exclusion of these diseases is indicated.
