Introduction
An anal abscess is a small cavity developing near the anus that becomes infected and generally has a buildup of pus within it. It is also sometimes referred to as a 'perianal abscess'.
Symptoms
The two main symptoms of an anal abscess are a swelling developing in the anal region, and acute pain in the area, usually constant. In some cases, there may be a discharge of pus either from the skin around the anus or from within the anus itself. It is also not uncommon to develop a fever or feel generally unwell.
Causes
Anal abscesses are generally the result of one of the small glands in the anal canal becoming infected. People who have other bowel conditions, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, may be more prone to anal developing abscesses.
Tests & Diagnosis
Diagnosis of an anal abscess is relatively straightforward and involves a physical examination of the anal area and perianal skin.
It is sometimes recommended that other tests be completed at the same time to check for other bowel conditions such as STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), inflammatory bowel disease (i.e. ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), diverticular disease or bowel cancer.
Treatment
Sometimes the pus in an anal abscess drains naturally (at which point the pain also normally subsides), however in most cases the pus will need to be drained from the abscess with a surgical drainage performed under general anaesthesia. The original cavity will reduce in size once the pus has drained and, in most cases heal on their own. In some cases, an anal fistula may have formed as a result of the abscess, in which case further treatment may be needed to treat the fistula.
