Piles, fissure and fistula treatment in Neelankarai, ECR
Bleeding, pain or a lump while passing stools? Learn how piles, fissures and fistulas differ and how they are treated by the surgeons at Healtree Hospital, ECR.
By the Healtree Hospital clinical team.
Piles (haemorrhoids) are swollen veins in the back passage that cause painless bleeding or a lump. A fissure is a small tear that causes sharp pain during and after stools. A fistula is an abnormal tunnel near the anus that keeps leaking pus. Most piles and fissures settle with diet and medicines; fistulas need surgery. The surgical team at Healtree Hospital, Neelankarai, ECR treats all three.
How to tell them apart
- Piles: bright red blood on the stool or tissue, a soft lump that may come out and go back, itching. Often painless
- Fissure: sharp, cutting pain while passing stools that can last for hours, often with a streak of blood
- Fistula: a small opening near the anus that discharges pus or blood, often after an abscess
- Perianal abscess: a painful, throbbing swelling with fever, which needs prompt drainage
Common causes
Constipation and straining are the main triggers for piles and fissures. Low-fibre diet, too little water, long hours of sitting, pregnancy and obesity add to the risk. Fistulas usually follow an anal gland infection or abscess.
When to see a doctor
Do not assume that rectal bleeding is piles. See a doctor if bleeding is new, if it is dark or mixed with the stool, if your bowel habit has changed, or if you have weight loss or anaemia. These need examination and sometimes a colonoscopy to rule out other causes.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the problem and how severe it is. Most people start with simple measures and need a procedure only if these do not work.
- High-fibre diet, plenty of water and stool softeners so stools pass without straining
- Warm sitz baths and medicated creams to ease pain and swelling
- Office procedures such as banding for some grades of piles
- Surgery for large or prolapsing piles, or for a chronic fissure that does not heal
- Surgery for fistula, as it does not heal with medicines
- Prompt drainage of an abscess
See a specialist in Neelankarai, ECR
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Our General & Laparoscopic Surgery team at Healtree Multi-Speciality Centre & Hospital can assess your situation. The hospital is open 24 hours.
Specialists: Dr. Habeeb Mohamed, Dr. V. Sarath Kumar
Related services: Day-Care Procedures, Endoscopy & Colonoscopy
Frequently asked questions
- Can piles be cured without surgery?
- Most early piles improve with more fibre, water, stool softeners and avoiding straining. Surgery or a procedure is needed only when piles are large, keep bleeding or prolapse despite these measures.
- What is the difference between piles and a fissure?
- Piles are swollen veins and are usually painless with bright red bleeding. A fissure is a tear in the anal lining and causes sharp pain during and after passing stools.
- Does a fistula heal on its own?
- Rarely. An anal fistula usually needs surgery to heal fully. Leaving it untreated can lead to repeated abscesses.
- Is rectal bleeding always piles?
- No. Piles are a common cause, but bleeding can also come from fissures, polyps, inflammation or bowel cancer. New or persistent bleeding should be checked by a doctor.
- How long is recovery after piles surgery?
- Most people go home the same day or the next day and return to light work in one to two weeks. Keeping stools soft is the key to a comfortable recovery.
Related reading
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