A perianal hematoma is a pile up of blood more like a lump that are usually clothed and are found in the tissue around the inner skin of the anus. Perianal hematoma is also known as anal thrombosis. It is visible to the naked eyes as it has a dark blue to purplish discoloration found below the surface of the skin that is affected. Perianal hematoma are known to be very discomforting, sensitive to pressure, worrying, embarrassing and painful. They can either be small or large in size. They vary in size from just a centimeter to the size of a tennis ball.
The larger the anal lump become, the more sore they also become and the more the blood begins to clot. You may also feel some hurts while you try to stool. This anal problem is always confused to be hemorrhoid because both health conditions cause a sore lump around the rectum. It is important to note that they are entirely two different health conditions. Hemorrhoid is a pooling of blood inside the anus that sometimes come out and goes back inside again while perianal hematoma occurs inside the anus.
Perianal hematoma is also mistaken to be pile but it really is not pile. It is very different from pile. Perianal hematoma is caused by a ruptured, burst or bleeding vein that happens when the bowel are open. Perianal hematoma is an external health condition so it happens only outside the areas of the anus. Perianal hematoma are commonly noticed among people who go to the gym or lift weights.
It is generally caused as a result of straining and can always reoccur as long as you still partake in strenuous activities. In this article, you would learn more about perianal hematoma, its causes, its symptoms, its treatment and many more.
WHAT IS HEMATOMA?
Hematoma is a health condition formed as a result of the damage caused to one of the largest blood vessels in the body. A hematoma takes the look of a bruise although it is different from a bruise. A bruise comes on the skin after trauma occurs to the body. In as much as a hematoma is harmless, in some cases, it can be more of a serious and severe health condition. Hematoma are usually caused due to injuries or trauma in a particular area of the human body and they are name according to that area of the body.
Examples of hematoma in different areas of the body includes;
- Ear Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs between the ear cartilage and the skin around it.
- Epidural Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs between the skull and the outer lining of the brain.
- Intra-Abdominal, Hematoma: This hematoma is also called peritoneal, or retroperitoneal hematoma. It occurs inside the abdominal cavity
- Intracerebral Hematoma: This type of hematoma occurs within the brain tissue and it is caused by bleeding from uncontrolled high blood pressure, rupture, trauma, tumor, or injury.
- Intramuscular Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs in the muscles. It can be very painful because of the swelling and inflammation.
- Subungual Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs under the nail.
- Subdural Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs between the brain tissue and the inner lining of the brain.
- Spinal Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs between spinal vertebrae and the outer lining of the spinal cord.
- Scalp Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs on the outer part of the skull and can often be felt as a bump on the head.
- Septal Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs with a nasal trauma. It might be due to a broken nose.
- Slenic Hematoma: This is a hematoma that occurs within the spleen. All these hematoma occurs in the blood vessels such as; the veins , arteries and capillaries. Treatment of a hematoma depends upon which part of the body or body tissue is affected. For the sake of this article, we will focus on the perianal hematoma.
WHAT DOES PERIANAL HEMATOMA LOOK LIKE?
A perianal hematoma has a bulgy and bubbling appearance in the area around the anus. It has a dark blue to purplish discoloration. You will feel a lump I the area no matter how small it is.
HOW LONG DOES PERIANAL HEMATOMA LAST?
Perianal hematoma can heal on its own within 7 days to couple of weeks. Perianal hematoma only takes more time to heal if they keep getting larger in size. To prevent perianal hematoma from lasting so long than usual, it is necessary you visit your Doctor to have your hematoma drained. After this you will experience full healing in just few days. But, you have to be careful about the area.
CAUSES OF PERIANAL HEMATOMA
There are lots of factors and activities that can cause the blood vessels around the anus to rupture or burst causing a perianal hematoma. They include;
- Sitting for a long period
- Constipation
- To much intake of birth control pills
- Having anal sexual intercourse
- Difficult bowl movement
- Lifting heavy weights
- Doing strenuous gym activities
- Pregnancy and labor
- Cardiovascular problem
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Injury
- A surgery that went wrong
- Some medical procedures
SYMPTOMS OF PERIANAL HEMATOMA
Some of the symptoms of perianal hematoma are;
- Mild to severe pain
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Sensitivity to pressure
- Dark blue, black or Purplish discoloration and lump around the anus
- Difficulty in sitting
- Difficulty in passing out a stool
- Blood in your stool
- Redness of skin near the anus.
DIAGNOSIS FOR PERIANAL HEMATOMA
Experiencing pains around your anus can be a source of worry to a lot of people. It is important that you find time to visit their Doctor for a proper diagnosis. Your Doctor will be able to diagnose what is really wrong with you, be it perianal hematoma, a hemorrhoid or a pile so as to know what to do next.Your Doctor would ask you some questions to know the symptoms you are experiencing.
You would not need to undergo a colonoscopy or any other type of diagnosis procedure than a physical examination. Your Doctor needs to carry out a physical examination to know the causes of your health condition. In this examination, your Doctor using a gloves in his or her hand will feel the nature of your anal lump with the finger.
Diagnosing a perianal hematoma is much easier and also invisible than diagnosed hemorrhoids because in perianal hematoma the lump is outside the anus while in hemorrhoids the lump is inside the anus.
TREATMENT FOR PERIANAL HEMATOMA
Perianal hematoma treatment is dependent on how severe the lump around the anus is. In a minor case, you can do a self care or use over the counter medications but in severe cases, you would need t undergo a draining or evacuation procedure. Here are some methods you can use to treat a perianal hematoma.
Home Remedy
This is a do it yourself method and more like s first aid, it is the fastest treatment and can help relieve anal discomforts and pains.
These home remedies includes;
- Use A Cushion Or Pillow While Sitting: As earlier said, one of the causes of perianal hematoma is sitting for a long period. If you have an anal lump, you have to sit on a cushion, pillow or a soft surface to avoid more complications.
- Use A Cold Compress: A cold compression is either a wet clothes or a pack of ice. It can be placed
- on the area to reduce it swelling and pain.
- Have A Balance Diet: Consider eating food that aids the healing of perianal hematoma. Food with nutrients, fibers and protein. Food with nutrients like fruits and vegetables helps to encourage easy and regular bowel movements. Fiber rich foods also helps encourage easy and regular bowl movement as well as helping to reduce constipation. Protein rich foods help to encourage the healing process of the anal lump.
- Avoid Strenuous Activities: Avoid strenuous activities because they add pressure to the area of your anus. Examples of these activities included; lifting weight, jogging, running, etc.
- Drink A Lot Of Water: Water helps to improve the exception and healing process.
Medication
There are no specific medication found to treat perianal hematoma. Nevertheless, your Doctor would prescribe some over the counter pain relieve medicines such as; paracetamol, Pandora, aspirin, etc, to relieve your of the pain and discomfort.
Surgery
If the perianal hematoma lump gets to large, your Doctor might recommend you meet a Surgeon so as to underground a draining or evacuation of the lump around your anus. If a blood clot is formed, it would have to be evacuated through surgery. This causes an Instagram relief to the patient and the wound from the surgery closes after about 2 days. Before then, the patients are advised to keep their anal area dry, clean and out of pressure.
WHEN TO VISIT YOUR DOCTOR
It is necessary you visit your Doctor if symptoms arises and it lasts for more than expected. Also, if after treatment, the symptoms persist, it is important that you visit your Doctor. Your Doctor will have a proper diagnose and examination of the area and give you a better recommendation to treat and heal a perianal hematoma.
CONCLUSION
Perianal hematoma can be very discomforting and painful in most cases. They heals on their own in about a week. If it last more than a week, it is necessary to visit your Doctor for proper treatment. With proper treatment, perianal hematoma would be healed in few weeks.