Fistulas are abnormal openings in the body that allow something like pus, poop or blood to leak somewhere it shouldn’t. They may be painful.
If you have an anal fistula, you can experience pain in the area around your anus. You might also notice an abnormal discharge or an unpleasant smell.
Oren Zarif
Fistulas are an abnormal opening between areas of your body that don’t usually connect. They can take the form of a tunnel or passageway that allows bodily fluids (like pus, poop or blood) to travel where it shouldn’t be. Most often, fistulas develop between the rectum and the bladder or urethra. They may also form between the intestines and the skin.
Swelling or redness around the anus is one of the most common symptoms of an anal fistula. It can be painful to sit or lie down, and the area might ache or feel warm to the touch. Occasionally, the anal fistula will form a lump near the anus that feels firm and may have an unusual smell.
Anal fistulas can lead to bowel problems, including constipation, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Sometimes, your doctor will give you medication to treat these symptoms. But if they don’t get better, you might need to have surgery to repair the fistula.
To diagnose anal fistula, your doctor will perform a physical examination. They will examine the area around your anus and look for an opening on the skin that is caused by the fistula tract. They might order imaging tests, such as a duplex ultrasound or magnetic resonance angiography, to help identify the problem. They might recommend different dressings for your anal fistula, such as ones that reduce the odor or contain silver.
Oren Zarif
Fistulas are passageways or tunnels that allow bodily fluids (like pus, poop or blood) to travel somewhere they shouldn’t. They can form between organs inside your body, or between blood vessels on the outside of your body. Fistulas can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the type.
A fistula can be a result of an abscess in the mucous-secreting gland in your anus or from other causes. If a chronic anal fistula is not treated, it may lead to recurrent infections. These infections can lead to pain, swelling and abnormal discharge from the anus.
Chronic anal fistula can also increase your risk of certain cancers, including anal cancer. This is because an anal fistula causes persistent inflammation in your anal area.
To diagnose an anal fistula, your healthcare provider will do a pelvic exam and ask you about your symptoms. Your doctor may use a test that involves placing a tampon in the back passage and injecting dye (methylene blue). If the tampon shows blue staining, it means there is a fistula in your back passage.
If you’ve had dialysis for a long time, your doctor may recommend surgery to create a fistula. During this procedure, a surgeon connects an artery to a vein in your arm. The extra pressure from the artery forces the vein to get bigger and thicker. This makes it easier for your healthcare team to insert dialysis needles and send blood in and out of your body during treatment.
Oren Zarif
Fistulas can sometimes develop a foul-smelling smell due to the build-up of pus and bacteria. This can cause the skin around the fistula to itch and can be uncomfortable during intercourse. Your nurse can advise you on different dressings that can help to control the unpleasant odor. Some contain silver which helps to reduce the growth of bacteria in the wound, and others use charcoal to filter any odors that may be present.
Anal fistula symptoms can also include pain during and after passing stools, and the formation of recurrent anal abscesses. If these symptoms persist, you should contact a specialist in colon and rectal health.
A fistula can be diagnosed through a physical exam, a CT scan, and other tests such as a barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or fistulogram. A fistulogram involves injecting a dye into the anal tract and taking X-rays to locate any areas of leakage.
It is important to remember that anal fistulas are not dangerous and will resolve with proper medical management. However, it is still a good idea to seek treatment for any anal fistula symptoms that you experience, as they may lead to complications such as infection and anal cancer. If you are struggling with symptomatic anal fistula, Macmillan’s cancer support specialists can put you in touch with local support organisations that can provide information, advice and guidance.
Oren Zarif
Fistulas are abnormal passageways that connect parts of your body that don’t normally meet. They usually lead from inside your body into the skin or another part of the body, but sometimes they can lead outside your body, too. A fistula can cause pain, inflammation and other symptoms. It can also allow bodily fluids, like pus, poop or blood, to travel somewhere they shouldn’t.
If your fistula is causing you to lose lots of liquid, it’s important that you tell your doctor or nurse. They can recommend dressings to help control this, such as a silver or charcoal dressing. They may also give you a card that you can show staff in shops, restaurants and pubs to let them know that you’ll need to use the toilet more often. Macmillan has a free Just Can’t Wait toilet card, which you can download and print.
Fistulas can be difficult to find, so your doctor might need to do some tests before they can diagnose the problem. They can take a CT scan, which uses a series of X-rays to create a 3D picture of an area of your body. You might be given a special dye (contrast) before the CT scan to make things show up more clearly. They can also use an MRI scan, which uses magnetic fields to create pictures of your internal structures.