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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffCauses of anal pain include:
- Anal cancer
- Anal fissure (a small tear in the lining of the anal canal)
- Anal sex
- Anorectal fistula (an abnormal channel between the anus or rectum usually to the skin near the anus)
- Coccyodynia/coccygodynia (tailbone pain)
- Colon cancer
- Constipation
- Crohn's disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)
- Diarrhea
- Fecal impaction (a mass of hardened stool in the rectum due to chronic constipation)
- Hemorrhoids (swollen and inflamed veins in your anus or rectum)
- Levator ani syndrome (spasm in the muscles that surround the anus)
- Perianal abscess (pus in the deep tissue around the anus)
- Perianal hematoma (a collection of blood in the perianal tissue caused by a ruptured vein)
- Proctalgia fugax (fleeting pain due to rectal muscle spasm)
- Proctitis (inflammation of the lining of the rectum)
- Pruritus ani (perianal itching)
- Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (ulcer of the rectum)
- Thrombosed hemorrhoid (blood clot in a hemorrhoid)
- Trauma
- Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
References
- Kahan S, et al. Rectal pain. In: Kahan S, et al. In a Page Signs and Symptoms. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:282.
- Ellis H. Anorectal pain. In: Kinirons M, et al. French's Index of Differential Diagnosis. 14th ed. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press; 2005:375.
- Marcello PW. Diseases of the anorectum. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&about=true&uniqId=229935664-2192. Accessed Dec. 8, 2010.
- Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 9, 2010.
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