Can you eat mutton with a perianal abscess?

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on September 14, 2024
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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.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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Early symptoms of perianal abscess

When perianal abscesses occur, there are usually significant triggers, most commonly seen after acute diarrhea or when a patient's immunity has recently declined. In the early stages of a perianal abscess, there are sudden symptoms of localized swelling and pain around the anus, accompanied by a sensation of heaviness. As the local abscess cavity enlarges and the infection worsens, the patient may also experience general weakness, fever, and even a decrease in appetite. During the acute phase of a perianal abscess, due to severe local pain, patients are unable to carry on with normal life activities, including sitting and walking. The pain may further involve pelvic muscles and nerves, leading to difficulties with defecation and urinary retention.

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What should I do if the perianal abscess bursts?

Since a perianal abscess is an acute symptom of a local skin infection around the anus, during the acute phase of a perianal abscess, an abscess cavity and pus formation generally occur within about a week. As the disease worsens and progresses, the perianal abscess will rupture about a week later. If the perianal abscess ruptures, it may have already formed an anal fistula. A perianal abscess and an anal fistula represent two different stages of the disease, and both require surgical treatment. The main surgical treatment for anal fistulas is fistulotomy with seton placement, and care must be taken to drain and disinfect the local wound post-surgery to prevent pseudohealing of the wound.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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How to find the internal opening of a perianal abscess?

The internal opening of a perianal abscess is mainly identified through digital rectal examination and with the aid of a probe and perianal ultrasonography. Typically, during the onset of a perianal abscess, there is noticeable redness, swelling, heat, and pain around the anus. Inside the anal canal, digital rectal examination and anoscopy reveal swollen mucosa at the anal crypt, accompanied by the discharge of pus. Using a probe for exploration can clearly identify the presence of the internal opening locally. Once the internal opening of a perianal abscess is located, prompt surgical treatment is necessary. Surgery for perianal abscesses generally involves a one-time radical procedure complemented by incision and drainage. If an internal opening exists and involves the sphincter, further surgery involving incision, drainage, and seton placement may be required.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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Has the perianal abscess that was drained a month ago and is neither painful nor itchy healed?

This situation often shows good post-operative recovery. Whether this situation is completely resolved depends on whether anal fistulas develop later, as most perianal abscesses drained can easily form anal fistulas. This is because drainage of perianal abscesses merely removes pus and secretions as much as possible, but does not completely clear the internal opening of the abscess and infected tissues. Thus, anal fistulas are likely to form later, and the patient needs to continue monitoring. Moreover, it’s important to maintain a light diet, avoiding spicy, irritating, and dry-hot foods as much as possible while also keeping bowel movements smooth. Frequent constipation or diarrhea should be avoided as they can cause wound pain or lead to inflammation and infection of the anal glands, potentially causing recurrence of the perianal abscess or the formation of anal fistulas later. However, the current situation indicates a relatively good post-operative recovery.

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How to treat recurrent perianal abscess?

If a perianal abscess has already been treated surgically, it is necessary to develop good dietary and bowel habits postoperatively to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. However, recurrence may still occur due to poor diet and bowel habits of the patient. If there is pain or discomfort at the site of the local wound of the perianal abscess, it is advisable to go to the hospital as soon as possible for an anal examination and perianal ultrasound to confirm if it has recurred. If it is confirmed to have recurred, early surgical treatment is necessary to prevent further expansion of the local infection focus or aggravation of the infection, which would increase the difficulty of treatment later.