Anorectal diseases are common and frequent diseases peculiar to human beings. According to relevant census data, the incidence rate of anorectal diseases such as hemorrhoids is 59.1%, with hemorrhoids accounting for 87.2% of all anorectal diseases, among which internal hemorrhoids are the most common, accounting for 52.19% of all anorectal diseases. Both men and women can get sick, with a female incidence rate of 67% and a male incidence rate of 53.9%, making the female incidence rate higher [due to the general unwillingness of female patients to accept hemorrhoid treatment, some clinical treatment statistics show that there are more male hemorrhoid patients than females]; people of any age can get sick, with those aged 20-40 being more common, and it can gradually worsen with increasing age, hence the saying "nine out of ten people have hemorrhoids".
Types of Anorectal Diseases
There are many types of anorectal diseases, mainly including: hemorrhoids, hematochezia, diarrhea, constipation, anal fistula, anal fissure, rectal cancer, colitis, perianal abscess, rectitis, colon cancer, acute enteritis, chronic enteritis, intestinal polyps, duodenum, anal sinusitis, anal condyloma, anal eczema, anal itching, and other infectious viral diseases. Among them, the four most common anorectal diseases.
1. Hemorrhoids
Concept of Hemorrhoids: In medical terms, hemorrhoids include internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, and mixed hemorrhoids. They are chronic diseases caused by the dilation of the venous plexus at the bottom of the anus and rectum, forming one or more soft venous masses.
Symptoms of Hemorrhoids: The main symptoms of hemorrhoids are hematochezia and prolapse. Repeated bleeding during defecation can cause a large amount of iron loss in the body, leading to iron deficiency anemia.
Harm of Hemorrhoids: Untreated hemorrhoids can easily lead to perianal abscesses or anal fistulas, increasing the difficulty of cure. Long-term bleeding can cause anemia, dizziness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, and various chronic consumption symptoms. I suggest you seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid delaying the condition.
2. Anal Fissure
Concept: An anal fissure refers to a rhombic fissure or ulcer formed by the rupture of the anal canal skin below the dentate line. It is a common anal canal disease, often seen in young and middle-aged adults, with males more affected than females. Anal fissures often occur in the posterior or anterior midline of the anus, with the posterior part being more common and fewer on the sides. Initially, there is only a small fissure on the anal canal skin, sometimes it can split into subcutaneous tissue or even the superficial layer of the sphincter muscle. The fissure is linear or rhombic, and when the anus is opened, the wound surface becomes circular or oval.
Cause: Patients with long-term constipation have dry and hard stools, and excessive force during defecation can damage the anal canal skin. Repeated damage can deepen the fissure to the full thickness of the skin. The posterior part of the anus bears greater pressure, so anal fissures are more likely to occur.
Symptoms: The clinical symptoms of anal fissures are pain and bleeding. Anal fissures often occur in the posterior or anterior midline of the anus, with the posterior part being more common and fewer on the sides. Initially, there is only a small fissure on the anal canal skin, sometimes it can split into subcutaneous tissue or even the superficial layer of the sphincter muscle. The fissure is linear or rhombic, and when the anus is opened, the wound surface becomes circular or oval.
Harm: Improper handling of anal fissures can lead to infected ulcers. If early-stage anal fissures are not treated in time, they can develop into three conditions: anal canal ulcers (fibrosis of the fissure, also known as old anal fissures), hypertrophy of the anal papilla (polyp-like tumor), and sentinel hemorrhoids (hyperplasia of skin tags). Continued development can lead to anal sinusitis (chronic anal inflammation) and anal fistulas (purulent anal inflammation), collectively known as the "five characteristics of anal fissures." There is also the possibility of developing anal cancer due to long-term chronic inflammatory stimulation.
3. Anal Fistula
Concept: A fistula refers to a fistula formed by the communication between the rectum, anal canal, and surrounding skin. Its characteristics are mainly local repeated discharge of pus, pain, and itching, and the fistula channel can be felt or controlled leading to the rectum. An anal fistula generally consists of a primary internal opening, a fistula arm, and a secondary external opening. The internal opening is mostly located near the dentate line, usually one, while the external opening is on the skin around the anus, which can be one or multiple.
Symptoms: 1. Discharge of pus is the main symptom, the amount of pus depends on the length and number of the fistula, newly formed fistulas discharge more pus, and the secretion irritates the skin causing itching discomfort. When the external opening is blocked or falsely healed, pus accumulates in the fistula, causing local swelling and pain, even fever, and the closed fistula breaks again, and the symptoms disappear.
2. Pain: When the fistula is unobstructed and without inflammation, there is often no pain, only feeling of local distension and discomfort, which worsens when walking. When the fistula is infected or the pus cannot be drained smoothly and swells and inflames, it can cause pain. Internal fistulas often feel burning discomfort in the lower part of the rectum and anal area, and defecation feels painful.
3. Itching: Due to the continuous irritation of pus on the perianal skin, there is often a feeling of itching, perianal moisture and discomfort, changes in skin color, shedding of epidermis, fibrous tissue hyperplasia and thickening, sometimes forming eczema.
4. Difficulty in defecation: Complex anal fistulas that do not heal for a long time can form large fibrotic scars or ring-shaped cords around the anus and rectum, affecting the expansion and closure of the anus, making defecation difficult, and giving a feeling of incomplete defecation.
5. Systemic Symptoms: During the acute inflammatory phase and repeated episodes of complex anal fistulas, different degrees of fever, weight loss, anemia, physical weakness, and other chronic consumption symptoms may appear.
Harm: Patients with anal fistulas have their own personal experiences and pain. Once an anal fistula forms, the chance of spontaneous healing is very small. After the fistula becomes complicated, it brings many troubles and certain harmful effects. First, the pus contaminates underwear, and vigorous activities can promote the overflow of pus. The local area is constantly stimulated, causing skin friction and itching, which is very painful, affecting work and study. Over time, it can make the body weak and thin, spiritless, weakened resistance, leading to anemia, and the attacks become more frequent, forming a vicious cycle.
4. Perianal Abscess
Concept: Perianal abscess, also called perirectal abscess or "anal carbuncle" in traditional Chinese medicine, refers to the result of acute and chronic purulent infections of the soft tissues around the anus and rectum, forming an abscess. These abscesses mostly originate from anal gland infections spreading to the spaces around the anal canal or forming abscesses under the skin and mucosa of the anal canal.
Manifestations: Depending on the location of the perianal abscess, the clinical manifestations vary. However, the general symptoms are that when a small hard lump or mass is found around the anus and rectum, it suddenly causes unbearable pain locally, followed by redness, swelling, heat, heaviness, discomfort, restlessness, urgency, constipation, and difficulty urinating. There are also rectal stimulating symptoms, accompanied by systemic toxic symptoms such as elevated body temperature, poor appetite, chills, and weakness.
Causes:
1. Infectious Factors: Modern medicine believes that infection is the main cause of this disease.
2. Iatrogenic Factors: Clinically, iatrogenic factors causing perianal abscesses around the anus and rectum are not uncommon. ① Formation of submucosal abscess due to improper operation or contaminated agents during internal hemorrhoid sclerotherapy or injection therapy. ② Tissue necrosis caused by chemical drug injections around the rectum, resulting in perirectal abscess. ③ Perforation and infection during sigmoidoscopy examination, causing retrorectal space abscess. ④ Local anesthesia infection or oil solution injection malabsorption, leading to abscess formation.
3. Postoperative Factors: Clinically, postoperative infections after anal and rectal surgery can also lead to perirectal abscesses, as well as infections after urethral surgery, perineal surgery, postpartum perineal laceration suturing, and postoperative infections of sacrococcygeal osteomyelitis.
4. Others: Infections caused by foreign objects in the rectum, actinomycosis, diverticulitis infections, anal and rectal cancers breaking down or involving deeper infections, as well as physical weakness, low immunity, or chronic wasting diseases, or malnutrition, are all causes of perianal abscesses around the anus and rectum.
"An's Anorectal Therapy" Efficient Diagnosis and Treatment of Anorectal Diseases
"An's Anorectal Therapy" is at the domestic leading level in treating hemorrhoids, complex anal fistulas, perianal abscesses, and prolapsed anus, allowing various anorectal diseases such as hemorrhoids and prolapsed anus to be cured with just one injection. Its characteristic therapies are divided into An's Injection Therapy and An's Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapy.
An's Injection Therapy: Uses the only pure Chinese herbal softening atrophy agent "Shaobei Injection Liquid" domestically available. This softening atrophy agent has been approved as a national second-class new drug, ending the history of shrinking hemorrhoids through scar formation in academic circles. It is the first drug to break through the "hardening necrosis" treatment scope, suitable for initial internal hemorrhoids expanding to all stages of internal hemorrhoids and varicose vein type mixed hemorrhoids. One injection immediately shrinks the hemorrhoid, curing it within 3 to 5 days. No local necrosis, no hard lump formation, no rectal stenosis, thus no bleeding, with a total effective rate of 100%. Cure rate exceeds 98%.
An's Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapy: Suitable for severe circumferential mixed hemorrhoids. The innovation of this therapy lies in using small incisions for subcutaneous stripping instead of the original large-scale stripping for external hemorrhoids, and using Shaobei Injection Liquid for internal hemorrhoids. The result of this treatment is the removal of hemorrhoids while protecting the normal physiological structure and tissue of the anus, with less postoperative pain, faster healing, and no sequelae.
"An's Anorectal Therapy" has enabled tens of thousands of anorectal patients to achieve "one-injection cure" results, not only having a profound impact in the domestic and international academic community but also reaching international leading levels. Experts in the field of anorectal diseases from Lithuania, Brazil, Mexico, India, South Korea, and other countries have expressed hope to come to China to learn and exchange experiences.