What are Piles and fissures What are Piles and Fissure and the difference between them?

What are Piles and Fissure and the difference between them?

If you are experiencing irritable and itchy anal cavity, problems with passing stools, bloody stool, and
uncomfortable sitting for a long time It is likely that you have fissure or piles. Many of us sometimes
do not understand the essential distinction between Piles and Fissure since they both have similar
symptoms. In this article you will understand the similarities and the difference of Piles and Fissures.

What is the difference between Piles and Fissure?

Piles or hemorrhoids are swollen veins, which can protrude outside the rectal or anal area, leading
to pain.

On the other hand, little incision or a small cut on the lining of the anal cavity, is anal fissure.

Piles Vs Fissure

Here are a few key distinctions which might help you understand what Piles and Fissures are.

Piles Fissures
Veins that are swollen in anal, rectum or anus Anal skin tear or cut
canal
In the early period there is no pain and as the Severe pain and discomfort, with little or more
swelling increases the pain increase as well. blood
Piles are a consequence of persistent Fissure happens in patients with Crohn's
constipation, pregnancy of diarrhoea or chronic disease, passing hard stools, and persistent
cough. diarrhoea during pregnancy, because of obesity
or damage to the anal cavity

Piles and Fissure Overview

Fissures of Piles Vs are commonly misunderstood because of overlapping symptoms and
indications. Here is extensive information about Piles and Fissure to help you understand better.

1- Piles- Swollen Veins

The swelling or inflammation of the blood vessels, muscles, and tissue of the anal region is called
hemorrhoids. Chronic constipation, spicy meals and prolonged sitting are the major causes of piles.
When the veins of the anal region are under great pressure, it causes swollen veins and tissues.

The blood vessels and veins become swollen and may even lead to blood in stool. Depending on the
degree of the piles, the disease is categorised into four levels. After the second grade of piles, the
physical symptoms can be observed clearly. Piles can be internal or external.

● Grade 1: are slightly swollen internal hemorrhoids.

● Grade 2: are bigger hemorrhoids that prolapse during defecation or strenuous activity and
become external. It spontaneously decreases.

● Grade 3: These are external hemorrhoids that need to be reduced manually.

● Grade 4: These are external hemorrhoids that are not reducible, and should be removed
surgically.

2- Anal Fissure- Cuts or Tear

The thin skin surrounding anus generally around the anal opening, is teared down or torn by a hard
stool. This condition is called anal fissure. It is unpleasant and difficult to pass stool, resulting in
constipation.

The tear grows worse as the individual continues to pass the hard stool, if it is not treated.

This is because the sphincter muscles are under pressure to pass stool. This can also cause discharge
of pus or light bleeding while bowel movement.

The condition is categorised as acute or Chronic fissure. Acute fissure is not very complex and it
is minor. They usually heal itself with time. The patient needs severe medical assistance in the
case of chronic fissure. In compared with Acute Fissure, the probability of a recurrence is
considerably higher for Chronic Fissure.

Difference between Piles and Fissure

1. Definition of Piles and Fissure

Piles or hemorrhoids: are the swelling of the anal tissues at the end of the rectum.

Anal Fissure: A linear or oval-shaped tear in an anal canal's skin called an anal fissure.

Symptoms of Piles and Fissure

Piles: painless bleeding, mucus discharge, a burning sensation, and itching are Symptoms of
hemorrhoids. It can get worse and become external.

Fissure: The anal Fissure is characterised by severe defecation pain and spasm. There may be
bleeding but it is less severe than with hemorrhoids.

The symptoms of a hemorrhoid and a fissure may be similar. Either discomfort, itching and bleeding
may occur. However the issue is likely to be a fissure when you are in pain but don't feel any outside
lump.The problem is certainly a hemorrhoid, if mucus is leaking from the anus.

Your symptoms can be caused by another disease, such as infection, abscess, or cancer. Before
trying to self-treat, consult a doctor to do an exact diagnosis.

3. Causes of Piles and Fissure

Piles: Obesity, age, pregnancy, increased intraabdominal pressure, alcohol consumption and poor
fiber diets cause hemorrhoids.

fissure : Anal fissures are mainly caused by an anal trauma, such as high resting anal pressure and
local ischaemia caused by pregnancy or surgery.

Problems of bowel movement can contribute to hemorrhoids as well as anal fissures. Constipation is
a very common cause of Piles and Fissure. The stress and pressure of constipation on your rectum

might cause hemorrhoids to form. When trying to pass hard stools, anal fissures may happen. Often
diarrhoea can also lead to Piles and Fissure.

Pregnancy could help to develop hemorrhoids or fissures. The increased weight of the baby on the
bottom part of the mother might cause women to get hemorrhoids when pregnant. Push during
delivery might also lead to hemorrhoids. Anal fissures most frequently occur during delivery.

Age is one of the greatest variations in the risk factors of hemorrhoids and fissures. The risk of
hemorrhoids in general increases as people become older. But Fissures commonly occur among
young people. In individuals from 20 to 40 years, even newborns may have fissures and are most
prevalent.

4. Diagnosis of Piles and Fissure

Piles: A physical examination, a digital rectal examination and a bone anoscopy is used to diagnose
hemorrhoids.

Fissure: A basic physical examination is sufficient for anal fissures. Digital anoscopy and rectal exam
may only be performed to confirm the diagnosis if the patient is painl-free.

5. Treatment of Piles and Fissure

Piles: Early stages can be healed with medications, a balanced, high-fibre diet and enough water
daily. Cold water and ice bags offer immediate but short pain relief.

Laser surgery may permanently cure piles. Piles are unlikely to recur if the patient decides on laser
therapy. During or after surgery there is no pain. The same day following surgery, the patient is
allowed to go home.

Fissure: Fissure therapy is designed to relax the anal sphincter via soft stools passage to enable rapid
recovery. When an acute fissure occurs, the doctor gives moderate medications and recommends a
healthy diet with a high amount of fibre and water and other healthy liquids for rehabilitation.

The surgical measures to cure are recommended for a patient with an acute fissure. Open fissure
surgery is painful and takes a long time to recover. Therefore, laser surgery takes 30 minutes, a
painless and permanent cure for fissure, to provide the best therapy for fissure.

Piles versus Fissure: Comparison table

Piles Fissure

Definition Piles are described as an enlargement of Fissure means the skin tear on the distal

distal rectum anal cushions. anal canal, either linear or oval.

Symptoms Symptoms of piles include bleeding, The symptoms of fissure include intense
itching, and burning painlessly. pain, spasm, itching and mild bleeding.

Causes Obesity, ageing, pregnancy, increased Anal trauma, high internal anal pressure
intra-abdominal pressure, alcohol intake and local ischaemia cause anal fissure.
and low fibre diets are causes of piles.

Diagnose A physical test, digital rectal tests, The physical exam will diagnose an anal
anoscopy and colonoscopy are used for fissure and digital rectal exam and
diagnosing piles. anoscopy diagnose a painless fissure.

Treatment Piles treatment includes dietary Anal fissure therapy includes dietary
modifications, sclerotherapy, ligation of modifications, medications and
rubber band and surgical removal. sphincteretomy.

How to know if you have Piles or Fissure ?

Your doctor will help you identify if you have hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Doctors have the
equipment and knowledge to monitor your symptoms, to look at the region concerned and to check
for hemorroid versus anal fissure.

Your treatment depends on which of the two diseases you are experiencing. There is also a
possibility that your symptoms might originate from a completely different problem. An assessment
from an expert is essential.

Contact Glamyo health to find a doctor in your area who employs the best colorectal treatment.