Itchy anus

Itching in the anus is the most common complaint when visiting a proctologist, the etiological factors of which are difficult to diagnose. Let's look at the main causes of anal itching, its types, treatment methods and prevention methods.

This is a problem that everyone faces, both adults and children. It causes discomfort and painful sensations. The cause can be easily solved if it is caused by helminthic invasion or an allergic reaction to intimate hygiene products or underwear. But sometimes itching appears due to proctological pathologies that are associated with hemorrhoids, fistulas or cracks. In this case, long-term treatment is required.

Sometimes it is caused by several factors at the same time. This significantly complicates the diagnostic process. In order to identify the etiological factors of this symptom, the proctologist uses a systemic diagnostic approach and conducts a thorough examination. And this is not surprising, since in the medical literature on proctology, more than a hundred causes of this pathology are described, which may have similar symptoms, but require an individual approach to therapy.

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Causes of itching in the anus

The causes of itching in the anus can be different, so when diagnosing them, special attention is paid to the symptoms, its duration, the patient's age and other individual characteristics of the body. Let's look at the common etiological factors of this symptom.

• Anorectovaginal lesions and diseases - anal itching is caused by hemorrhoids, anal fissures, warts, fistulas, genital warts.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract – gastritis, ulcers, polyposis, dysbacteriosis.
• Pathologies and deformations of the pelvic organs – prostatitis, cystitis, cervical erosion, urethritis.
• Dermatological diseases – pediculosis, eczema, scabies, lichen, candidiasis.
• Allergic dermatitis – itching can be caused by the action of ointments, intimate hygiene products, deodorants, underwear (poorly rinsed from powder or synthetic).
• Infectious lesions – fungi and bacteria. Parasitic diseases (taeniasis, giardiasis, opisthorchiasis, enterobiasis ) are also common.
• Weakened immune system and diseases of organ systems – renal failure, oncological pathologies, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism.
• Failure to observe hygiene rules – itching occurs due to frequent use of gels and soaps or due to the irritating effect of feces on the skin. Itching can appear due to intense physical activity, wearing tight underwear and clothing, excess weight, high humidity and heat, which provoke the growth of bacteria.
• Food and bad habits – unpleasant sensations can appear due to the abuse of spicy food, alcoholic drinks, citrus fruits and spices. Drinking coffee and drug addiction can also provoke anal itching.
• Mental illnesses – psychoses, neuroses, pathomimia cause many painful symptoms. In some cases, proctologists diagnose idiopathic itching, that is, itching, the cause of which is not identified.

Itching around the anus can be caused by tissue inflammation or have an infectious etiology. Allergies to pads, intimate hygiene products or synthetic underwear provoke itching. People are extremely reluctant to see a doctor with this problem and, as a rule, when the disease intensifies and becomes chronic. This symptom requires diagnosis, since its cause may be a health-threatening disease or, on the contrary, the symptoms of a minor problem that can be solved quickly and forever.

High temperature, diarrhea, constipation, moisture and stool residues that remain in the folds of skin around the anus are an ideal place for fungi and bacteria to multiply and attack. That is why it is very important to properly care for hygiene and eat right. Regular consumption of fiber, vitamins and probiotic microorganisms will help regulate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. It will not be superfluous to limit the consumption of sweet and spicy foods. Stress and high blood sugar levels also cause itching around the anus.

Itching and burning in the anus occurs for various reasons, but such symptoms interfere with normal life, cause discomfort and anxiety, and reduce work capacity. Many people living with this problem are embarrassed to talk about their disease of the anus and rectum. Very often, burning and itching appear due to rough toilet paper or shaving hair in the anus. Obese people develop diaper rash, which provokes anal irritation. Another etiology of discomfort is worms, pinworms, and dirty linen.

Treatment begins with eliminating the pain syndrome. During treatment, it is very important to keep the anus clean and dry, regularly wash without using washcloths, and use only wet wipes after defecation. These are the simplest ways to relieve the symptoms of burning in the anus. For therapy, the proctologist conducts diagnostics and prescribes tests. And only after that prescribes ointments, creams, suppositories and other medications that will help cure the problem.

Itching and redness of the anus are symptoms of contact dermatitis, which can appear due to injury and irritation of the skin around the anus in both women and men and children. The simplest treatment is to eliminate irritants. Irritants that cause redness and itching include intimate hygiene products, synthetic and tight underwear, poor nutrition, dirty bed linen and towels.

• If itching and redness are caused by bacterial, i.e. perianal dermatitis, then patients develop small blisters and pustules with pus. This type of dermatitis, if not treated properly, causes crusting, erosion, and oozing.
• In the initial stages of allergic dermatitis, itching and burning are observed, and in the absence of therapy, papules with serous contents appear, and when they open, erosion begins. All this suggests that itching and redness of the anus will not go away on their own and require medical treatment.

Itching of the vagina and anus is called anogenital and is an unpleasant painful sensation that causes nervousness and the need to scratch the skin. It can be caused by an infection or fungus. In this case, in order to get rid of the unpleasant sensations, you need to see a gynecologist or proctologist and take smears. Based on the test results, the cause of the itching will be determined and effective therapy will be prescribed, which will help get rid of the painful symptoms.

Itching in the vagina is very common in women. The main etiological factors are menopause, i.e. endocrine disorders, neuroses, leucorrhoea, inflammatory diseases, irritation due to urine in diabetes, urogenital infections or helminths. But this symptom can be provoked by improper hygiene, irritation due to tight underwear, intimate products and other allergens. If itching occurs, it is very important to seek medical help, as this will allow you to cure unpleasant sensations at an early stage and prevent the development of diseases.

Itching and pain in the anus can be of varying intensity, but always cause discomfort and interfere with normal life. Painful sensations arise because the rectum and anus have many nerve endings. With cracks, ulcers and other pathologies, itching turns into burning, and the pain becomes burning and cutting. Unpleasant sensations intensify during and after defecation. Because of this, many patients avoid defecation. Pain and itching in the anus intensify with constipation, hard stool and diarrhea. Very often, pain causes bleeding and even purulent discharge.

Do not forget that pain and itching in the anus are symptoms that indicate the presence of a disease or infection in the body. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical help so that a proctologist can diagnose the cause of the pain and prescribe effective treatment. If you do not seek medical help in time, the pain will become chronic and can cause serious pathologies.

Severe itching in the anus can be caused by high sugar, in which case it is necessary to take a blood test for sugar. If the itching is caused by helminthic invasion, the patient needs to take a scraping from the rectum and a stool test. The etiology can be infectious diseases, fungus and lesions of the anal canal (cracks, hemorrhoids). Hard toilet paper, tight synthetic underwear and intimate hygiene products cause allergic reactions, the main symptom of which is severe anal itching.

At the first symptoms, you should consult a proctologist. This will help get rid of painful sensations before they become chronic. During diagnostics, the proctologist prescribes the patient to take a stool sample to detect worms. A bacteriological analysis of stool in case of unstable stool will not be superfluous. A blood sugar test is also mandatory, since itching often occurs with high sugar and diabetes.

If pathological changes are detected, the proctologist performs a rectoscopy. The examination allows to exclude prostatitis and urethritis. During treatment, special attention is paid to anal hygiene. The skin should be clean and dry, it is recommended to wipe with wet wipes. For therapy, the doctor prescribes ointments, creams, pastes, suppositories, disinfectants and antihistamines.

Itching of the anus and labia occurs with inflammation of the anus and vagina (infectious and non-infectious). Itching sensations appear due to irritation of the skin nerve endings. If any painful sensations and itching appear, you should contact a gynecologist and proctologist. Since unpleasant symptoms will not go away without full therapy. In some patients, itching appears due to decreased immunity, which leads to an imbalance of microflora and the development of opportunistic microflora that causes itching.

Diagnosis of etiological factors is carried out comprehensively. At the first stage, the gynecologist conducts a physical examination, after which the patient gives smears and scrapings from the anus and labia, as well as general and biochemical blood tests and stool analysis. The materials of scrapings and smears are sown for bacteria and their nutrient media, to determine sensitivity to certain antibiotics. If there is a suspicion of allergic causes, the doctor conducts a study of the hormonal status and does allergy tests.

Based on the test results, a treatment plan is drawn up. If the etiology of the pathological symptom is an infection, the doctor selects a regimen for taking antibiotics and antifungal drugs. In case of non-infectious causes, additional studies are conducted. Antihistamines and corticosteroids are used for treatment. Physiotherapeutic methods of therapy are also mandatory.

Itching between the anus and vagina most often occurs due to infection. The etiology may be thrush, that is, candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis. But sometimes, the discomfort is caused by a more serious infection. Without examination and testing, it is impossible to accurately determine the cause, since most infections have similar symptoms. Therefore, if itching occurs between the anus and vagina, you must immediately seek medical help.

During the examination, the doctor takes smears for flora and bacteriological culture. Additionally, they can take a urine test, PCR smears for sexually transmitted diseases. A blood test and an ultrasound examination of the pelvis are mandatory. Only after a complete diagnosis can the cause be identified and complex therapy prescribed. Self-medication is dangerous and ineffective. Therefore, in order to prevent worsening of symptoms, it is necessary to seek medical help.

Itching and discharge from the anus occur due to inflammatory and tumor lesions of the rectum. Such diseases include: anal fissures, rectal prolapse, fistulas, tumors (benign and malignant).

• If the discharge is purulent or mucous, then the etiology may be an infectious infection.
• Bloody discharge from the anus is a symptom of rectal tumors and hemorrhoids.

All the above-described diseases are accompanied not only by discharge from the anus, but also by severe anal itching. Itching is an additional symptom that may indicate an allergy, infectious lesions (pinworms), anal papillomas (pathological skin growth caused by the papilloma virus). Ignoring the symptoms is dangerous, so you need to seek medical help and go to see a proctologist or coloproctologist. The doctor will conduct diagnostics and prescribe tests, based on the results of which a treatment plan will be drawn up.

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Treatment for anal itching

Treatment of anal itching is a long and complex procedure that is carried out under medical supervision, after passing a series of tests and a complete diagnosis. The first task in therapy is to eliminate its causes (etiological, pathogenetic)

If during diagnosis an early stage of anal fissure, hemorrhoids, cryptitis or anal sphincter insufficiency is detected, then the treatment is symptomatic, but after that, therapy is carried out for the disease itself.

1. If during the diagnosis of itching an early stage of anal fissure, hemorrhoids, cryptitis or anal sphincter insufficiency is detected, then the therapy is symptomatic, but after that the disease itself is treated.

An anal fissure is a small defect (about 1 cm) of the mucous membrane of the anal canal. Despite such an insignificant size of the lesion, the crack causes serious problems. The main symptom of an anal fissure is blood and pain during and after defecation and severe itching. Painful sensations can last from several minutes to several hours. The disease causes fear of the process of defecation, so many patients suffer from constipation.

The main causes of the disease are diarrhea, prolonged sitting, anal sex, frequent consumption of spicy food and alcohol, and heavy physical work. The etiology of painful sensations is a small wound that causes severe spasms of the sphincter, which prevents the fissure from healing. All this suggests that the disease is long-term, subsides for a short time and then worsens again. If treatment is not started in a timely manner, the disease will take a chronic acute stage, which requires only surgical treatment. Timely treatment by a proctologist allows you to cure an anal fissure with conservative methods. Let's consider the drugs that are used in therapy.

• Gepatrombin G - the drug is available in the form of an ointment and rectal suppositories. It is recommended to use twice a day after defecation. The main indications for use: anal fissures, internal and external hemorrhoids, fistulas, eczema, anal itching. Gepatrombin G has contraindications that are based on the body's hypersensitivity to the active substance of the drug. The ointment and suppositories cannot be used for tuberculosis, skin tumors and skin lesions (bacterial, fungal, viral), in the first trimester of pregnancy, with syphilis. Before inserting the suppositories, you must take a warm sitz bath, and the ointment is inserted into the rectum using the tip on the tube. The therapeutic effect is observed after 14 days.
• Heparoid Zentiva is an ointment that has anti-inflammatory and antiexudative effects. The ointment helps in the treatment of hemorrhoids, anal fissures, soft tissue bruises. It is prescribed to both adults and children. The ointment is used 2-3 times a day. The main contraindications for the use of Heparoid Zentiva are hypersensitivity to the active substance of the ointment, a tendency to bleeding, and hemorrhagic diathesis. When using the drug, you should be careful and avoid getting the ointment in your eyes. The drug does not affect the coordination of movements and the speed of physical and mental reactions.
• Metroseptol is a drug produced in the form of an ointment in aluminum tubes. Indications for use: anal fissures, hemorrhoids, vulgar and rosacea, trophic ulcers and infectious skin lesions, slow-healing wounds. The main indications for the use of the drug are based on individual sensitivity to the active substance of the drug. As for the side effects of the ointment, they appear when the rules for using the drug are not followed. The main side effects are: allergic reactions, lacrimation, burning and hyperemia of the skin. The ointment is applied to cleansed skin, twice a day, morning and evening. The duration of treatment should be at least 4 weeks. It is not recommended for use by children, and if side effects occur, it is necessary to reduce the frequency of using metroseptol.

2. Haemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a disease of the rectum that leads to enlargement and, in some cases, prolapse of hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are a circulatory system disorder. The disease can occur due to a lack of dietary fiber in the body, constipation, a sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work, pelvic injuries and tumors, lifting weights and frequent consumption of spicy food, which irritates the anal canal. Let's look at the main drugs used in the treatment of hemorrhoids.

• Ginkor Fort is a medicinal product, the release form of which is tablets. The product has angioprotective and venotonic effect. It increases the strength and elasticity of vascular tissue and smooth muscle layer. The main indications for the use of Ginkor Fort are the treatment of venolymphatic insufficiency, treatment of hemorrhoids. It is taken orally during meals. When treating hemorrhoids, you need to take 1-2 capsules of Ginkor Fort twice a day. The duration of therapy is from 7 to 10 days. It has side effects, which manifest themselves in the form of allergic reactions, vomiting, diarrhea, headache. Tablets are not prescribed to people with hyperthyroidism and children. It is recommended to use it only after the permission of a doctor.
• Derinat is a solution for local and external use. The main indications for use are: inflammatory eye diseases, inflammation of the oral mucosa, chronic bacterial and fungal infections in gynecology, hemorrhoids, gangrene, etc. It is not recommended for people with hypersensitivity to the components of Derinat. For the treatment of hemorrhoids, the medicine is administered rectally, using microclysters with a volume of 15 to 40 ml. The duration of therapy is from 5 to 14 days.
• Neo-Anuzol is a complex drug with anti-inflammatory, drying, antispasmodic and antipruritic effects. Anuzol is available in the form of rectal suppositories for insertion into the rectum. The effect occurs 20-60 minutes after administration of the drug. The main indications for the use of Neo-Anuzol: hemorrhoids (external and internal), burning and itching of the anus, anal fissures. Apply rectally one suppository 2-3 times a day, the maximum dose should not exceed 7 suppositories per day. It is not recommended for use in case of prostate hypertrophy, prostate tumors, glaucoma and pregnancy. Long-term use of the drug can cause side effects - constipation, drowsiness, skin allergic rashes, urinary retention, tachycardia and others.

3. Cryptite

Cryptitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the blind pockets of the anus due to infection of the crypts. The main symptoms are a burning sensation, pain and shooting pains in the rectum, the formation of fistulas, and moist skin of the anus. The main cause of cryptitis is stagnation of feces, that is, constipation, microbial infection and diarrhea. In the absence of therapy, the disease becomes acute and chronic, which can lead to rectal cancer. The main symptoms of cryptitis are pain in the anus during and after defecation, sharp and burning shooting pains, and a sensation of a foreign body. Let's look at the main drugs for the treatment of cryptitis.

• Proctosedyl is an ointment and suppositories for local use. It is used for internal and external hemorrhoids, cryptitis, anal fissures. It is prohibited to use for viral and fungal infections, during pregnancy, and arterial hypertension. The main side effects are dry mucous membranes, burning, and itching. Proctosedyl is used in the morning and evening, preferably after defecation. The duration of therapy is from 7 to 10 days.
• Simetride is a rectal suppository with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antipruritic action. The main indications for use are: cryptitis, proctitis, anal fissures, inflammation and itching of the anus, hemorrhoids. It is prohibited to take it during pregnancy and lactation and hypersensitivity to the active substance. Suppositories are placed once a day after defecation or a cleansing enema, the treatment lasts for five to seven days. With prolonged use of the drug, side effects are possible, which manifest themselves in the form of burning and dryness of the mucous membrane.
• Relief Advance is an effective antihemorrhoidal drug. The drug is used to treat cryptitis, external and external hemorrhoids, anal itching, erosion and fissures of the rectum. Release form - rectal suppositories and ointment. It is used twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime, after defecation or a cleansing enema. The ointment can be used after each bowel movement. More frequent use of the drug can cause allergic reactions and skin dermatitis. The main contraindications for use are thromboembolism and granulocytopenia. If bloody discharge and painful symptoms appear after treatment with the drug, you should consult a proctologist.

4. Anal insufficiency

Anal sphincter insufficiency occurs in 7% of patients with colon diseases. The main causes of the disease are damage to the mucous membrane and muscle tissue, birth injuries, spinal cord injuries, diseases of the nervous system, and rectal tumors. The main symptoms of the disease are incontinence of gases, liquid and solid stools. Conservative and surgical treatment are used to treat anal insufficiency. Let's look at the main drugs and therapeutic procedures that will help in the treatment of the disease.

• Strychnine is a drug that is available in the form of tablets and injections for intravenous administration. The main indications for use are encopresis, that is, anal sphincter insufficiency, atony of the gastrointestinal tract, and others. When treating anal insufficiency, it is recommended to use tablets. Take it twice a day for 7-10 days. Contraindications for use: pregnancy, hepatitis, thyrotoxicosis, angina. With prolonged use of the drug, side effects are possible - difficulty swallowing, convulsions, tension of the facial muscles.
• Prozerin (injections) – used to treat anal insufficiency, during the recovery period after meningitis, with atony of the stomach, bladder and intestines. The main contraindications for use: vagotomy, angina pectoris, peritonitis, bradycardia, gastric ulcer. The dosage of injections and the duration of treatment are prescribed by a proctologist, but, as a rule, the period of use of the drug does not exceed 7-14 days. If the dosage of the drug is not observed, side effects are possible: nausea, flatulence, vomiting, hypersalivation, headache, allergic dermatitis. During the therapy, it is necessary to refrain from driving vehicles and activities that require increased concentration and speed of psychomotor reactions.
• Electrical stimulation and dieting are used to stimulate nerve endings that are responsible for the formation of reflexes and urges to defecate. Dieting helps to normalize the process of digestion and defecation.

5. When conducting a rectoscopy examination, the cause of itching may be proctosigmoiditis. In this case, a full course of treatment is carried out and preventive procedures are prescribed.

Proctosigmoiditis is an inflammatory disease of the lower rectum, which signals about the digestive tract disorders. The main etiological factors of the disease: mechanical damage of the rectal mucosa by hard feces, parasite infection, consumption of spicy food, alcohol abuse. The disease must be treated, as it progresses and leads to complications (hemorrhoids, anal fissures, paraproctitis). Let's consider the most effective drugs that are used for the treatment of proctosigmoiditis.

• Methyluracil is a medicinal product in the form of a suppository. The main indications for use are: proctosigmoiditis, anal atresia, ulcerative colitis, and anal fissures. It is used after bowel movement, two rectal suppositories three times a day. The course of therapy lasts from 7 days to 2-5 months. Sometimes, when administering the medicine, a slight burning sensation is felt, which passes after a couple of minutes. The main contraindications for use are leukemia, malignant bone marrow lesions, and lymphogranulomatosis.
• Alginatol® is a hemostatic drug, the release form of which is rectal suppositories. The main indications for use are proctosigmoiditis, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the rectum, anal fissures. It is used rectally, one suppository once a day, the duration of treatment is up to 14 days. The use can cause allergic reactions in the form of skin dermatitis.

6. Anal itching that occurs against the background of intestinal dysbacteriosis is treated with antibacterial drugs - Amoxicillin, Trichopolum, Diflucan, Fungizone and others. If the causes of the pathology are not identified, and the tests do not show the presence of pathologies or infections, then treatment begins with the prevention of latent proctosigmoiditis, diet, the use of skin ointments and microclysters with collargol.

Treatment of anal itching depends on its severity and neurotic reactions. Sedatives (bromine, valocordin, valerian), desensitizing and antihistamines (in the form of injections) are prescribed for treatment. A mixture of 5% urea solution and 5% quinine dihydrochloride solution is used for injections. Another option for injection therapy is 5% carbolic acid solution, varicocide solution and 20% sodium chloride solution. Injection treatment is carried out only in an outpatient setting.

In particularly severe forms of anal itching and with additional symptoms (anal discharge, reddening of the skin of the genitals), glucocorticosteroid hormonal drugs, ointments with corticosteroids and antipruritic solutions (2% carbolic acid tincture, diphenhydramine, menthol tincture) are prescribed. Cooling water-alcohol solutions with painkillers (menthol, novocaine, lidocaine) are effective in therapy. In case of repeated itching, suppositories (gemoprost, immunovita) and prophylactic enemas with collargol solution and oak bark decoction are prescribed, up to three times a day after preliminary bowel cleansing, i.e. defecation.

Prevention of itching in the anus

Prevention of itching in the anus consists of proper personal hygiene (regular washing, talc powder, natural cotton underwear). It would not be superfluous to refuse spicy food, sweets, smoked foods, alcohol, salt. Since all these products provoke anal itching. Avoid cheap toilet paper, use only soft, without fragrances and cosmetic additives that irritate the skin and provoke itching. Excessive physical activity, stress and anxiety are another factor that leads to itching. Therefore, it is very important to maintain psychological health.

Itching in the anus is an unpleasant symptom that creates discomfort and causes painful sensations, making everyday life unbearable. There are many etiological factors of this symptom. Some of them are infectious and bacterial in nature, others are associated with non-compliance with the rules of intimate hygiene and improper nutrition, and others are a signal of diseases. That is why, when itching appears, it is necessary to seek medical help. A proctologist will diagnose the cause and prescribe effective treatment that will relieve painful sensations and itching in the anus.

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