Prevalence of Benign Anorectal Diseases in Patients Consulting a General Surgeon

Abstract

Background: Benign anorectal diseases are largely underestimated in surgical practice. Studies have shown that patients conceal anal symptoms leading to late diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of proctological symptoms in patients consulting a surgical clinic which constitute approximately 15% of the surgical outpatient load. Methods: In this observational study, all adult patients consulting the surgical clinic at a peripheral hospital in Nasik, India over a period of 1 year from Jan 2017 to Dec 2017 for benign anorectal diseases were examined, diagnosed and treated and prevalence of anorectal diseases in both the sexes and different age groups was analysed. Results: A total of 160 patients who visited the surgical clinic for proctological symptoms were studied. Fissure-in-ano (32.5%) was the most frequent condition for which the patients consulted followed by haemorrhoids (22.5%). About 73.75% of patients were males and 26.25% were females. The age group of 30–40 years was most commonly affected by anorectal diseases. A total of 32.5% of patients were in the age group of 30–40 years followed by 25% in the age group of 20–30 years. Fissure-in-Ano was most commonly (34.61%) involved in the age group of 40–50 years whilst haemorrhoids was most commonly (64.28%) seen in the age group of 30–40 years. Conclusion: The present study revealed that fissure-in-ano is the most common anorectal condition wherein the predominant symptom is perianal pain during and after defecation. It is more common in young and middle-aged males. Haemorrhoids is another common anorectal condition affecting young males and presents with bleeding per rectum.

Keywords: prevalence, proctological symptoms, fissure-in-ano, haemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano

Cite this Article

Sarla GS. Prevalence of Benign Anorectal Diseases in Patients Consulting a General Surgeon. Research & Reviews: Journal of Surgery. 2019; 8(1): 19–24p.