Anal Fistula Treatment
An anal fistula is a small tunnel that connects an infected gland inside the anus to an opening on the skin around the anus. Symptoms include pain and swelling around the anus. Diagnosis and treatment are discussed.
What Is An Anal Fistula?
An anal fistula is a small tunnel that connects an abscess, an infected cavity in the anus, to an opening in the skin around the anus.
The anus is the external opening through which faeces are expelled from the body. Just inside the anus are several small glands that make mucus. Occasionally, these glands get clogged and can become infected, leading to an abscess. About half of these abscesses may develop into a fistula.
What Causes An Anal Fistula?
The leading causes of an anal fistula are clogged anal glands and anal abscesses. Other, much less common, conditions that can cause an anal fistula include:
- Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory disease of the intestine)
- Radiation (treatment for cancer)
- Trauma
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Tuberculosis
- Diverticulitis (a disease in which small pouches form in the large intestine and become inflamed)
- Cancer
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