NHS Choices Condition
Content supplied by NHS Choices
An anal fissure is a tear or ulcer in the lining of the anal canal, just inside the opening of your anus. They can be very painful, particularly when you are passing stools and for a while afterwards. Anal fissures can also cause minor bleeding, which you may notice in your stools or on your toilet paper.
Anal fissures can be classified in several different ways. They can either be acute or chronic, depending on how long you have had the anal fissure. They can also either be primary or secondary, depending on the cause of your anal fissure. These classifications are outlined below:
- Acute anal fissure is a fissure which has been present for less than six weeks.
- Chronic anal fissure is a fissure which has been present for six weeks, or more.
- Primary anal fissure is a fissure which has no identifiable underlying cause.
- Secondary anal fissure is a fissure which is caused by an underlying condition.
Anal fissures are a common problem and can occur in both adults and children.
click to show / hide the glossary
An ulcer is a sore break in the skin, or on the inside lining of the body.
Anus
The anus is the opening at the end of the digestive system where solid waste leaves the body.
Stools
Stool (also known as faeces) is the solid waste matter that is passed from the body as a bowel movement.
Acute
Acute means occurring suddenly or over a short period of time.
Chronic
Chronic usually means a condition that continues for a long time or keeps coming back.
Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here
Bookmark with