Perianal abscess


Anal abscess should visit which department?
Perianal abscess is a common disease in proctology, generally involving an infection of the local anal crypts and submucosal tissues near the anus. When a perianal abscess acutely flares, it is necessary to register with the department of coloproctology and undergo surgical treatment as soon as possible to prevent the abscess from expanding and leading to a systemic infection. The primary surgical treatment for perianal abscesses is a onetime radical surgery, but when there are changes resembling anal fistulas or leakage, options may also include incision, drainage, and seton procedures. After surgery, it is necessary to disinfect the local wound daily and ensure that the wound drainage is unobstructed.


Can conservative treatment be effective for perianal abscesses?
Conservative treatment of perianal abscesses can only relieve temporary inflammatory symptoms and cannot achieve a curative effect. There is also the potential for conservative treatment to delay the condition, leading to an increase in the size of the abscess cavity or the rapid expansion of pus, thereby exacerbating the condition. Once a perianal abscess is identified, surgical treatment should be carried out as soon as possible. First, the abscess cavity needs to be opened, and the enclosed pus drained completely, and then either a local incision with suture or debridement surgery chosen for treatment. Additionally, it is necessary to maintain the normal function of the anal sphincter. If only conservative medication is used for a perianal abscess, it can only temporarily relieve the current symptoms and does not benefit the healing of the disease or its long-term development at all.


Can you drink alcohol with a perianal abscess?
Patients with perianal abscess should not drink alcohol. Long-term or excessive alcohol consumption, due to the effects of evaporation or sublimation, can cause local congestion and edema at the anus, and may also increase the risk of infection. As perianal abscess is a local infectious disease of the anus, not only should alcohol be avoided during the acute phase, but prompt surgical treatment is also necessary. If a patient with a perianal abscess does not undergo timely surgical intervention, the pus cavity may expand and the abscess may further spread and rupture, potentially forming an anal fistula. Excessive drinking could lead to worsened local inflammatory symptoms, resulting in an increase in pus and possibly enhancing pain or infection, leading to a more extensive infection in the anal area. Therefore, patients with a perianal abscess should not consume alcohol.


Can you eat mutton with a perianal abscess?
During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, do not consume mutton, as it is considered a "heaty" food. Excessive consumption of mutton may lead to congestion of the local rectal and anal mucosa, which can potentially cause enlargement of the local abscess or worsen the condition. The primary treatment for a perianal abscess is surgical, and the diet following surgery should consist mainly of light and easily digestible liquid foods. To avoid the pain associated with overly dry stools in the early stages, patients can consume more vegetables, fruits, and a suitable amount of staple foods.


Which department should I go to for perianal abscess?
During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, patients experience significant local redness, swelling, heat, and pain around the anus. The pain is severe and in some cases, patients are unable to sit or walk normally due to the discomfort. During this acute phase, the swelling of the skin around the anus can easily be confused with skin carbuncles, leading patients to mistakenly visit a dermatologist. However, a perianal abscess is a local anal disease that requires registration with a colorectal surgery department, as it is not merely a skin carbuncle but an infection caused by an infection at the anal crypts inside the anal canal. This necessitates prompt surgical incision and drainage, and, if a fistula has formed, a fistulotomy may also be necessary.


What is the best medicine to take for a perianal abscess?
Perianal abscess is a type of acute infectious disease localized around the anus, and oral medication is not necessarily the best treatment method for perianal abscesses. Rather, the best treatment for perianal abscesses is surgery. Surgical methods generally include incision and drainage procedures, as well as further definitive surgeries, because perianal abscesses are associated with infections in the anal crypts. Thus, medication alone can only relieve symptoms and cannot completely clear the infection. If treatment is solely through medication or if it is incomplete, there is a high likelihood of recurrent infections, which may even lead to the formation of anal fistulas. Once an anal fistula forms, it can only be cured through surgical procedures that involve cutting and threading.


How many days does the skin around an anal abscess fall off?
During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, if rubber band ligation surgery is performed, the duration of the rubber band falling off generally depends on the location of the lesion. For superficial local perianal abscesses, the rubber band typically falls off within one to ten days. For high-position complex perianal abscesses or those accompanied by anal fistulas, the falling off of the rubber band might take about ten days. In some cases where the rubber band falls off slowly, it may require a doctor's dressing change and assistance to weaken or detach the local rubber band. Do not pull off the rubber band yourself to avoid injuring the local sphincter, which could lead to decreased or abnormal tightness around the anus.


Is the recurrence rate of perianal abscess high?
Perianal abscess is an acute infectious disease localized around the anus. If a perianal abscess acutely erupts, it requires prompt surgical treatment. Without surgery, there is a possibility of recurrent episodes of perianal abscesses or the formation of anal fistulas due to the rupture of the abscess. After surgery for a perianal abscess, it is also important to pay attention to a light diet and regular bowel movements. It is crucial not to allow the stool to become too dry, nor to experience diarrhea. Recurrent diarrhea can lead to infection of the anal crypts, thereby causing perianal abscesses and local infections. Therefore, the care of a perianal abscess is very important; maintaining good dietary and bowel habits is essential to prevent recurrence of the abscess.


How to treat perianal abscess?
Perianal abscesses generally have two treatment options. Initially, if the abscess is not very large and the swelling and pain are not particularly severe, conservative treatment with antibiotics can be used temporarily. If conservative treatment is ineffective and the swelling worsens, surgical treatment may be necessary. In cases of severe abscesses, incision and drainage can be considered first, followed by antibiotic treatment. Surgical definitive treatment can then be performed 3-5 days later.


Symptoms of perianal abscess
Perianal abscess is a common acute infectious disease in proctology. When a perianal abscess occurs, the patient generally experiences severe pain in the anal area accompanied by local skin redness, increased skin temperature, and even systemic fever and fatigue symptoms due to the local abscess. During an outbreak of a perianal abscess, the abscess cavity or pus encapsulation can generally be clearly seen under perianal color ultrasound, and it is necessary to promptly carry out perianal abscess incision and drainage surgery, as well as further one-time radical surgery for the perianal abscess. If not treated actively, a perianal abscess might rupture and likely form an anal fistula, the treatment of which is also primarily surgical.