For those who haven’t experienced anal abscess yet should be happy because this condition really can be torturing especially when sitting activity is involved. Most of the anal abscess are a result of infection from small anal glands. There are also certain medical conditions that can also cause anal abscess such as diabetes mellitus. Although, it’s painful, an anal abscess is curable. With a proper medical treatment, you can get rid of it.
Why can diabetes cause anal abscess?
Researches and studies have notified that 31% of the patients suffering from diabetes mellitus have developed a fistula. That’s because they have immune system disorder that cause wounds not easily healed. As a result, it can develop into a fistula. If the fistula is happened to be in the anal area, it’s called anal fistula. Anal fistula can cause infection near anal area thus causing a collection of pus (abscess) in the nearby tissue. Although some people believed that it will get better on its own, a study reported totally different answer. Anal abscess won’t get better by itself, it needs to be treated and surgery is mostly the recommended procedure.
Symptoms of anal abscess
Anal abscess is often associated with these kinds of condition but to be sure, you still need a doctor’s diagnosis. Some common conditions that people with anal abscess often experienced are as follows:
Pain
The pain is usually constant, throbbing and getting worse when sitting down. It is recommended to sit on a pillow if you want to sit down.
Skin irritation
Since anal abscess is located in the anal area, the nearby area will mostly likely swelling, redness and feel tender. There’s no indication that it will also feel itchy.
Discharge of pus
This is the typical symptoms of an anal abscess. If you find out your anus discharge some white-yellowish liquid called pus, most likely you have an anal abscess.
Constipation
Anal abscess can also make you have a hard time in having excretion. But eating a lot of fibers will solve this problem although research and studies didn’t say anything in connection with reducing the pain.
Anal abscess can actually be treated without surgery if you find it out on time. Without surgery, the abscess can be cured in approximately few days of treatment. But if it’s too late and the abscess has getting bigger and bigger, doctor will most likely advice the patient to have a surgery before the fistula erupts and spreads the pus on other organ parts. If that’s happened (the fistula bursts), things will be more complicated and the procedure will be more painful as they (doctors) have to clean the pus also. That’s why if you feel you have an anal abscess, don’t be embarrass to seek medical advice.
Preventives measure for anal abscess
Once anal abscess is treated, there is unlikely that the problem will come back so it’s best to cure it completely when you find out that you have this medical condition. Complete cure and treatment of anal abscess is impossible to be done with home remedies however, with the right measures, it’s quite effective to prevent the recurrence of anal abscess. Things that you do at your home to prevent anal abscess are as follows:
Sitz bath
Sitz bath or also called warm bath in which the buttocks are immersed in warm water. By adding essentials oils to this water, it can relieve the pain associated with anal abscess and if Epsom salt, betadine and other antiseptic lotion to the water, it can be a useful home remedy for anal abscess.
Diet
This method might be easy to be said than done. Basically, all you have to do is to avoid constipation. Diet should be supported with high fibrous food, such as apple and vegetables, which helps in forming mucus that will assist in smoothing bowel movement.
These two methods are also good for those suffering from diabetes mellitus since none of the methods above can worsen their diabetic condition. In the end, preventing is better than treating. That is why to make sure that you have to eat a good amount of fibrous food every day especially for people with diabetes. You can get a lot of fibers by eating fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, broccolis, carrots, spinach, etc.
Bottom line
Anal abscess can cause complication if it’s not treated well but still, it’s treatable. The only way to prevent it is by understanding the risk factors and make sure to closely monitor and manage your diet and health conditions which may put you at an increased risk. This mostly should be applied by those suffering from diabetes because their chance to get anal abscess is doubled than normal person. For those who notice any anal problems, please do not try to underestimate it by not seeing a doctor, hoping it will get better by itself. It is understandable to feel ashamed with this condition because of its location (around anal area) but to be honest, not seeing a doctor for a treatment and to prevent the condition from becoming worse is rather silly because it’s not worth the pain.
If you get proper treatment for your anal abscess on time, most likely no surgeries will involve but if the anal abscess is located deep in the anus, surgery most likely the only choice you have. Make sure, you see a doctor before it’s too late (the fistula bursts)!