Anal fissures may cause painful bowel movements and bleeding. There may be blood on the outside of the stool or on the toilet tissue (or baby wipes) following a bowel movement.
Other symptoms may include:
The health care provider will perform a rectal exam and look at a sample of the rectal (anal) tissue.
Danakas G. Anal Fissure. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferriās Clinical Advisor 2008: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby; 2008.