Cryptitis is an inflammatory disease in the area of the human rectum. It arises especially from problems with defecation, as a result of which there is inflammation of the anal papillae. Later, an infection of the anal gland itself may develop on it.
What is cryptitis?
Under the term cryptitis, physicians understand an inflammation in the rectal area. The transition from the anal canal to the rectum consists of anal papillae and of so-called crypts. The latter are pockets that open into anal glands. If one of these orifices becomes blocked, cryptitis develops, an inflammation that can later develop into an infection of the anal gland itself. Most often, problems with bowel movements are responsible for the inflammation, with feces getting into the pockets of the anal papillae. Cryptitis often goes unnoticed at first until it manifests itself with symptoms such as itching, pain or a foreign body sensation in the area of the anus. In many cases, the condition progresses without complications; however, in individual cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to open abscesses that have developed.
Causes
In most cases, the causes of cryptitis are problems with bowel movements. Normally, the bowel is emptied without feces getting into or lodging in the crypts. However, if constipation occurs, for example, so that defecation cannot take place over a longer period of time, the feces may be forced back. In this way, it can also get into the crypts. Since the feces are usually very hard in this state, the sensitive mucous membrane may be injured. If the stool comes into contact with these, inflammatory conditions form; experts then speak of cryptitis. The infection can also form if the affected person permanently suffers from stools that are too soft or mushy, and these become lodged in the crypts in the long term.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Cryptitis presents with fairly typical symptoms. These often coincide with the symptoms of anal fistula. Thus, with the advent of the condition, there is itching in the anal region and pain during defecation. This pain during or after defecation is the leading symptom of cryptitis. Occasionally, there is also bleeding after defecation. After some time, defecation disorders occur more frequently. The stool becomes retained and hard. In addition, there is a feeling in the anal region as if there is a foreign body in it. This can lead to further stool retention, occasionally resulting in constipation. The hard stool also leads to further pain. The increasing inflammation can lead to a burning sensation at the anus. The itching usually nevertheless remains in addition. Eventually, the inflammation may lead to the formation of abscesses and fistulas, which increases the foreign body sensation and pain during and after defecation. The abscess formation may be accompanied by general malaise and fever. Psychological symptoms of cryptitis are primarily an increased sense of shame and a great deal of suffering due to the problematic toilet movements. The feeling of shame is mainly fed by the area affected by cryptitis.
Diagnosis and course
Cryptitis is often not recognized directly, because the symptoms are very similar to those of hemorrhoidal disease and the inflamed crypts are thus mistaken for hemorrhoids. If a doctor is consulted because there is itching, burning or pain after defecation, this can only be detected by means of a very precise examination with a finger. The affected region in the anal area is palpated piece by piece and additionally examined with an anal speculum and a very thin probe. Colonoscopy or similar examination methods provide a conclusive diagnosis in this case. Untreated cryptitis leads to more severe problems with bowel movements as it progresses and is associated with pain and other unpleasant symptoms. It may develop into abscesses or fistulas, which may then need to be surgically removed.
Complications
Due to cryptitis, affected individuals suffer from various discomforts, mainly involving the intestines and stomach. The patient’s quality of life is significantly limited and reduced by cryptitis. Those affected suffer primarily from severe pain that occurs during bowel movements. It is not uncommon for psychological complaints or depression to occur as well.It is not uncommon for sufferers to suffer from weight loss as a result, as less food is intentionally consumed to prevent bowel movements. Itching may also develop. Many patients are ashamed of these complaints, so that this often leads to delayed treatment. Likewise, sufferers may complain of a foreign body sensation in the anus. In most cases, cryptitis can be treated relatively well and easily. As a rule, there are no particular complications or other complaints. The life expectancy of the affected person is also not usually reduced by cryptitis. Likewise, the patient must pay attention to a healthy diet. Furthermore, various sphincter exercises can also alleviate the discomfort. In most cases, this results in a positive course of the disease in the patient.
When should one go to the doctor?
If there is repeated pain and discomfort during bowel movements, a doctor should be consulted. If the food intake is balanced and healthy, abnormalities of the feces are considered a warning sign and should be clarified by a doctor. If fluid intake is adequate, peculiarities of the stool are a sign of irregularity that needs to be investigated and treated. If the stool is soft to mushy for several days or weeks, a visit to the doctor should be made. If the symptoms spread or existing pain increases, a doctor is needed. If there is itching at the anus, open sores or bleeding, a doctor should be consulted. Pathogens can enter the organism, which in severe cases can cause blood poisoning. A visit to the doctor is therefore necessary as soon as pus forms at the exit of the intestine or there is severe redness at the anus. If the affected person perceives the sensation of a foreign body or a diffuse feeling of pressure in the area of the rectum, a doctor should be consulted. If there is an inner restlessness, problems with locomotion or discomfort in a sitting position, a doctor should be asked for help. If there is a general feeling of illness, an elevated body temperature, or if the affected person refuses food intake due to the symptoms, a doctor must be consulted.
Treatment and therapy
If cryptitis has been diagnosed, it can usually be treated quite well. To eliminate the inflammation, the attending physician will prescribe appropriate medications. These must be given directly onto or into the affected region. These are creams, ointments or even suppositories, which can best reach the exact location of the inflammation in the crypts. If abscesses or fistulas have already formed, or if the inflamed crypts are so severely affected that they can no longer be treated with medication, surgery must be performed. The patient himself can also do a number of things to alleviate the symptoms. This often includes adjusting the diet to ensure firm and regular bowel movements. Sphincter exercises improve circulation in the anal region and also help cryptitis heal more quickly. The same goes for gently massaging the anal verge with a finger.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis of cryptitis is described as favorable. Under normal circumstances, a diagnosis is made followed by the development of a treatment plan. This provides for a short treatment period that subsequently ends in freedom from symptoms. Without medical care, there is a risk of secondary disorders and serious health consequences. Due to the retention of feces, the intestine can no longer fully perform its natural work. In particularly severe cases, tumors may develop or pain may develop. If the possibility of treatment continues to be ruled out, the affected person is threatened with premature death. In cooperation with a medical doctor, preparations are administered that lead to rapid relief of the symptoms. Inflammatory processes are stopped and monitoring of regular bowel movements is initiated. Moreover, by massages in the anal area, the affected person can independently contribute to the improvement of his health condition. This supports the recovery process and prevents subsequent disorders. If tissue changes form, removal of these secondary disorders can be arranged in some patients. Interventions of this kind normally proceed without further complications and are characterized by a short treatment time.After the wound has healed, the affected person is discharged from therapy as recovered. Despite good healing prospects, cryptitis can recur in the course of life. Therefore, it is advisable to be adequately informed about healthy bowel movements.
Prevention
Cryptitis can be prevented to some extent by eating a balanced diet and having regular bowel movements of a firm but not too hard consistency. This can prevent feces from lodging in the crypts and causing inflammation. If symptoms such as pain or itching occur in the anal region, a doctor should be consulted.
Aftercare
Cryptitis does not entail any need for aftercare once healed. The patient can continue to lead his or her regular life. There are no significant limitations in daily life. To avoid recurrence of complications, a balanced diet is recommended. However, this is necessary anyway for a healthy and balanced life. The responsibility for this lies with the patient. Doctors can arrange for nutritional counseling if necessary. If treatment is delayed, the period of therapy may extend to several months. In addition to taking painkillers, massages and sphincter exercises then become necessary. Follow-up care is arranged on an individual basis and depends on the extent of the complaint. The scheduled follow-up examinations include a palpation of the anus area. A colonoscopy also provides clarity about the persistence of the cryptitis. Follow-up is usually associated with cancer. It is intended to detect a life-threatening neoplasm at an early stage. In this way, doctors hope to achieve the best possible treatment success. In contrast, cryptitis does not usually threaten the life of the affected person. Moreover, a neoplasm arising from an initial illness is virtually impossible. The prevention of a recurrence of cryptitis results from a general change in dietary habits. Only in the case of acute signs on the rectum, the patient visits his doctor.
This is what you can do yourself
A cryptitis can be accompanied during the healing process of the same well by the affected person. For this, changes in diet and gentle care of the affected areas – in addition to any medication – are necessary. For example, the diet should be changed to allow the affected person to have regular bowel movements that are not too soft and in one piece. This is achieved by a diet rich in fiber (psyllium, dried fruit, etc.). In addition, exercise helps the bowel thicken and remove water from the feces. More regular bowel movements can prevent feces from continuing to adhere to inflamed areas. In addition, regular bowel movements are less stressful on the anal area. Sitz baths, enriched with essential oils, tannins or sea salt, can help relieve pain caused by cryptitis. However, they are not suitable for causative treatment. The anal region itself should be stimulated to blood circulation to accelerate healing processes. Massages of the anal rim and careful stretching exercises can be used for this purpose. Self-help measures are no longer sufficient in the case of cryptitis that has already formed fistulas or abscesses. Healing of such severe inflammatory symptoms is considered very unlikely without medical help.
