If you indulge in revelry during the Spring Festival holiday, beware of perianal abscess! Remember these five tips to prevent it

The Spring Festival holiday is a wonderful time for everyone to visit relatives and friends and relax. When relatives and friends get together, everyone will inevitably drink and eat spicy and greasy food. At the same time, there are rich holiday entertainment activities. Staying up late, watching TV series, playing cards, etc. have become the norm, and the daily routine has been completely disrupted. However, if you indulge yourself like this, perianal abscess will quietly target you! During the Spring Festival and after the resumption of work after the holiday, the Anorectal Department of Zhuzhou 331 Hospital received many such patients.

1. What is perianal abscess?

Perianal abscess is an acute suppurative infection of the soft tissues around the rectum and anal canal or the space around it, which forms an abscess. Young and middle-aged men are particularly susceptible to it.

During an attack, there is persistent severe pain around the anus, redness, swelling and fever of the skin, and nodules and tenderness when touched. If the location is deep, the perineum and lumbosacral area will also be swollen and painful, and there may also be systemic symptoms such as fever, lack of strength, and loss of appetite.

2. Why is it easy to get perianal abscess during holidays?

Staying up late will reduce your immunity and give bacteria an opportunity to take advantage.

Alcohol irritates the intestinal mucosa, causing intestinal dysfunction, triggering diarrhea or constipation, and damaging the tissues around the anus.

In addition, eating too much spicy and greasy food will stimulate congestion of the anal blood vessels, and can also cause indigestion, constipation, and increase the risk of infection .

If perianal abscess is not treated in time, the infection will gradually worsen and the abscess will expand. It may also rupture and form anal fistula, causing repeated pain and itching in the anus, which seriously affects life. Anal fistula is difficult to heal on its own, and the number of fistula openings and fistulas increases, making treatment more difficult and even risking cancer.

Expert reminder:

If you experience severe anal pain, redness and swelling of the skin, fever, and systemic symptoms, it is likely to be anal abscess and you should go to the hospital immediately.

3. How to prevent perianal abscess?

1. Adjust the diet structure and pay attention to the combination of meat and vegetables

Avoid excessive intake of spicy, greasy, and irritating foods, such as chili peppers, peppercorns, and fried foods. Eat more vegetables and fruits rich in dietary fiber, such as spinach, celery, apples, and bananas, to keep bowel movements smooth and prevent constipation and diarrhea. At the same time, control the amount of alcohol you drink, and try to drink less or no alcohol.

2. Maintain good living habits

Avoid staying up late and ensure adequate sleep time so that your body can get enough rest.

3. Moderate exercise

Don't sit or stand for long periods of time, especially during holidays, and don't sit at the card table or on the sofa all the time. You can do some exercise, such as walking, jogging, yoga, etc., to promote blood circulation and enhance the body's resistance to disease.

4. Pay attention to anal hygiene

Keep the area around your anus clean and dry, wash your anus with warm water every day, especially after defecation. Choose soft, breathable underwear, and change it frequently to avoid bacterial growth.

5. Actively treat underlying diseases

If you suffer from diseases such as diabetes, ulcerative colitis, etc., you should actively seek treatment and control the condition, because these diseases will affect the body's immunity and increase the risk of perianal abscess.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Bu Xiaoping, Zhuzhou 331 Hospital

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(Edited by YT)