Is the recurrence rate of perianal abscess high?

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on September 11, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
55sec home-news-image

What should I do if there is pus draining from a perianal abscess?

When a perianal abscess occurs, there is typically pus or an enclosed abscess under the skin. If the perianal abscess ruptures and drains pus, it may have developed into an anal fistula. Once a perianal abscess forms an anal fistula, surgical treatment should be carried out as soon as possible. The surgical methods for treating perianal abscesses and anal fistulas mainly include incision drainage debridement surgery and incision with seton placement. After the surgery, due to substantial secretion from the local wound, it is essential to disinfect and change dressings regularly and to monitor the wound daily. It is crucial to prevent excessive granulation or pseudohealing at the local site, which could encapsulate the infection and prevent complete recovery, potentially leading to recurrence in the future.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
49sec home-news-image

Which is more serious, perianal abscess or hemorrhoids?

Perianal abscesses and hemorrhoids are two different types of anorectal diseases. During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, the urgency of the condition is greater than that of hemorrhoids. If active surgical intervention and incisional drainage and debridement are not carried out for a perianal abscess, it can lead to further enlargement of the pus cavity, increasing the size of the infected wound and the focus of infection, causing more severe pain and symptoms of systemic infection in the patient. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, can be managed with conservative medication to alleviate symptoms. Surgical treatment is considered only when there are recurrent flare-ups, severe pain, significant prolapse, and worsening bleeding.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
36sec home-news-image

Will people with perianal abscess experience weight loss?

Generally, perianal abscesses do not cause weight loss. Typically, perianal abscesses are caused by common bacteria infecting the spaces around the anus and rectum, leading to an acute purulent infection. When an abscess forms, it can cause sudden swelling and pain in the perianal area, with episodic increases in pain. However, if the abscess is caused by tuberculosis bacteria, it can lead to a chronic condition and systemic wasting diseases, which may present symptoms such as night sweats, feverish feelings, etc. Chronic diseases can cause weight loss.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
58sec home-news-image

How many days of antibiotic injections are needed to treat a perianal abscess?

During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, the main focus is on the nature of the local abscess. If it is a hard swelling without pus formation, anti-inflammatory injections or antibiotics can be used for symptomatic treatment. Generally, a five to seven-day course of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment can reduce the local swelling, but it cannot guarantee a 100% chance of non-recurrence in the future. If a local pus cavity or swelling has already formed, and there is pus formation, simply using anti-inflammatory injections for symptomatic treatment will not be curative. Surgery is also required, mainly involving opening the local pus cavity, cleaning out the pus thoroughly, and removing local infection foci to promote normal growth of fresh granulation tissue, which could then lead to the healing of the local wound.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
48sec home-news-image

What will happen if a perianal abscess is not treated?

Perianal abscesses are localized abscess formations that occur due to repeated infections in the anal crypts. Typically, under perianal ultrasonography, clear pus chambers and related structures can be observed. If perianal abscesses are not treated promptly, there is a high likelihood of expansion of the local pus chambers and dispersion of the pus, leading to an increase in the size of local anal abscesses, which might involve the sacrococcygeal area or the intersphincteric space. The primary treatment for perianal abscesses is surgical, mainly through incision and drainage to evacuate the pus, followed by thorough debridement of the local wound. Additionally, if there are changes in the local sphincter, thread-lifting therapy may also be performed.