Fissure

A tear in the anal canal is called anal fissure. When the skin breaks, it can cause pain and extreme discomfort. Some amount of bleeding during defecation may also be experienced. When the anal aperture is over-strained, it results in a crack leading to fissure. In women, delivery trauma can lead to anal fissure. Ulcer in the anal canal or sexually transmitted diseases too can cause the anal fissure. In children, it is commonly due to injury by passing hard stool. Fissure is usually seen at the anal verge. This being a highly sensitive area; any scratch or tear in this area gives excruciating pain, burning, itching, irritation like symptoms. There may be spasm in the anal region (which is a protective mechanism) and the patients are scared of passing stools. Sometimes patient avoids eating food so as to avoid going to toilet. Usually the pain subsides in an hour or so. However in some conditions where there is underlying inflammation and infection; the pain may persist whole day. Recurrent anal fissure which has not been treated properly give rise to an extra skin growth known as sentinel tag.