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Anorectal abscess - Treatment

Alternative Names

Anal abscess; Rectal abscess; Abscess - anorectal

Treatment:

Treatment involves surgery to drain the abscess.

Warm sitz baths (sitting in a tub of warm water) may help relieve pain and swelling, and may help make the abscess easier to drain.

Your doctor may prescribe pain medication and antibiotics.

Expectations (prognosis):

With prompt treatment, a patient usually does well. Infants and toddlers usually recover very quickly.

Complications:

Anal fistula
Body-wide infection
Problem keeps coming back (recurrence)
Scars

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you notice a rectal discharge, symptoms of an anorectal abscess develop. You should also call if you have fever, chills, or other new symptoms after being treated for this condition.

Rectum

Reviewed last on: 7/22/2008
Shimul A. Shah, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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