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 canal	Anal skin tear or cut
In the early period there is no pain and as the swelling increases the pain increase as well.	Severe pain and discomfort, with little or more blood
Piles are a consequence of persistent constipation, pregnancy of diarrhoea or chronic cough.	Fissure happens in patients with Crohn's disease, passing hard stools, and persistent 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 distal rectum anal cushions.	Fissure means the skin tear on the distal anal canal, either linear or oval.
Symptoms	Symptoms of piles include bleeding, itching, and burning painlessly.	The symptoms of fissure include intense pain, spasm, itching and mild bleeding.
Causes	Obesity, ageing, pregnancy, increased intra-abdominal pressure, alcohol intake and low fibre diets are causes of piles.	Anal trauma, high internal anal pressure and local ischaemia cause anal fissure.
Diagnose	A physical test, digital rectal tests, anoscopy and colonoscopy are used for diagnosing piles.	The physical exam will diagnose an anal fissure and digital rectal exam and anoscopy diagnose a painless fissure.
Treatment	Piles treatment includes dietary modifications, sclerotherapy, ligation of rubber band and surgical removal.	Anal fissure therapy includes dietary modifications,  medications and 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.