Piles or fissure? Tell them apart by the symptoms

What are piles (haemorrhoids)?

Piles occur when the blood vessels inside and around the anus become swollen. Long-standing constipation, straining during bowel movements, pregnancy and sitting for long periods are common causes.

• Painless bright-red blood during a bowel movement
• A lump or swelling felt at the anus
• Itching and discomfort
• A feeling that something is coming out of the anus

What is an anal fissure?

A small tear or sore in the skin at the anal opening is called an anal fissure. It usually forms when a hard stool is passed.

• Sharp, cutting pain during and after a bowel movement
• The pain can last from a few minutes to several hours
• A small amount of bright-red blood
• A tendency to avoid going to the toilet for fear of pain

The key difference

Piles usually cause more bleeding but little pain, while a fissure causes severe pain with little bleeding. Still, you should not diagnose yourself from the symptoms alone — sometimes both are present together.

Treatment

In the early stage both conditions can be controlled with medicines, a high-fibre diet and lifestyle changes. Long-standing or complicated cases may need modern surgery.