ABSCESS
An
abscess is a walled-off infection with a collection of pus.
Anal abscesses can be caused by any number of underlying
problems such as infection of one of the glands surrounding
the anus. Other common problems leading to abscess
include pilonidal cysts, inflammatory bowel disease (i.e.,
Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), infection following
trauma & injury. Abscesses also occur commonly
in people whose immune system is weak (such as people with
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Symptoms
generally include anal pain, anal muscle spasm, fever, chills,
and a mucous-like discharge from the anus that may temporarily
relieve the pain (especially if the abscess drains into
the rectum or through a fistula (see below). Surgery
is the only treatment for this problem, as the cure for
an abscess is allowing it to completely drain. An
I&D (incision & drainage) is the surgical procedure
that is used to treat abscesses.
A
fistula is simply a connection between two structures that
shouldn't exist. An example is a abnormal tract in
the skin leading to an anal abscess, or from an abscess
into the rectum. Pictured to the right is a tender
swollen abscess.
