Anal Pruritus Quiz
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Itchy anus
Hemorrhoids
Anal itching
A lump at the anal opening
Itchy around the anus
Swelling at anus
Lump near anus
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Anal Pruritus?
This refers to itching on the skin around the anus, where feces is passed.
Typical Symptoms of Anal Pruritus
- Itching around the anus
- Consuming excessive amounts of food that can irritate the gut
- Hemorrhoids or lumps around the anus
- Regular use of an automatic self-cleaning toilet seat
- Anal pain
- Bleeding from the anus
Diagnostic Questions for Anal Pruritus
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have anal itching?
- Do you eat a lot of irritating foods?
- Do you have hemorrhoids or lumps around your anus?
- Do you use a self-cleaning toilet seat regularly?
- Are you experiencing anal pain?
Treatment of Anal Pruritus
The treatment of anal itching depends on its cause. Creams and oral medication may be helpful.
Reviewed By:
Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care)
Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Content updated on Feb 13, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Itchy anus at night
- Anal pruritus
- Rectal pain
- Anal fissure itch
- Anal pain
- Burning pain in anus
Symptoms Related to Anal Pruritus
Diseases Related to Anal Pruritus
FAQs
Q.
Itching or Pain? Why Your Anus Is Irritated and Medically Proven Next Steps
A.
Anal itching often stems from skin irritation, hemorrhoids, infections, diet triggers, or skin conditions, while sharp pain is more suggestive of a fissure, a thrombosed hemorrhoid, or an abscess. Proven first steps include gentle water-only cleansing, keeping the area dry, softening stools with fiber and fluids, brief use of barrier or 1 percent hydrocortisone creams, sitz baths, and removing triggers. See a clinician promptly for severe or worsening pain, fever, pus, a hard tender lump, heavy or black bleeding, weight loss, or symptoms lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks. There are several factors to consider, and important details that can affect your next steps are covered below.
References:
* Singh VK, Das S. Pruritus Ani: A Comprehensive Review. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2018 Feb;31(1):57-65. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1607412. Epub 2018 Jan 29. PMID: 29398863; PMCID: PMC5792248.
* Heman-Ackah BT, Sun Z, Marzouk M, Margolin DA. Anorectal Pain: Clinical Presentation and Diagnostic Algorithms. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2020 Sep;33(5):308-316. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701314. Epub 2020 Mar 27. PMID: 33132717; PMCID: PMC7605995.
* Borde R, Khubchandani S. Current Management of Pruritus Ani. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2020 Sep;33(5):317-320. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1701269. Epub 2020 Mar 27. PMID: 33132718; PMCID: PMC7605996.
* Hussain AM, Safadi ME, Khoury LS. Functional Anorectal Pain. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2021 May;34(3):186-193. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1725178. Epub 2021 Feb 23. PMID: 34295325; PMCID: PMC8290209.
* Jäger LK, Wölfle U, Schempp CM, Zündorf I. Management of Perianal Dermatitis and Pruritus Ani. Dermatol Clin. 2022 Jul;40(3):369-383. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2022.03.004. Epub 2022 Mar 25. PMID: 35367069.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Siddiqi, S. A., & Siddika, A. M. (2018). Pruritus ani. Surgery of the Anus, Rectum and Colon.
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781351105040-16/pruritus-ani-shahab-siddiqi-arifa-siddikaParés, D., & Abcarian, H. (2018). Management of common benign anorectal disease: what all physicians need to know. The American Journal of Medicine.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000293431830130XMahboubi, M. (2017). Effectiveness of Myrtus communis in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Journal of Integrative Medicine.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095496417603406