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What Causes Extreme Itching Sensation On Anal Area?
Question: this is embarrassing, but I have had extreme itching in my anal area for the past couple of months. I have tried A&D ointment, cortisone ointment, antibiotic ointment, and an ointment for fungal itch. Nothing helps. I am just recovering from the flu, which had me down for the week. The itching has been relentless throughout the time I had the flu, and the prior month. I keep clean, take care in washing the area as not to further irritate the tissue.
Brief Answer:
Anal itching could be due to number of reasons
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query on HCM,
I am pleased to be able to assist you with worry and I hope I will be able to give you directions on how to go about treating this condition.
Anal itching (order wise known as pruritus ani) is often an embarrassing health problem and most patients do not always want complain about this.
They are several known causes of anal itch which could be due to
- Diet (irritating chemicals in the foods we eat, such as are found in spices, hot sauces, and peppers),
- Continuous moisture of the anus especially with diarrhea which could result to yeast infection (you attempting to treat it on your own might not be the best way to go about it)
- Antibiotics treatment can cause yeast infection
- Psoriasis can also lead to pruritus ani
- Pinworm infection
- hemorrhoids
From your description, it looks like it is possible that the flu you had resulted to local yeast infection. Local treatment might be sufficient to treating the yeast, so you might require further oral antifungal such as nystatin.
At this point, I suggest you see a gastroenterologist for proper evaluation since you have already tried all over the counter drugs used for treatment of anal itch.
Most anal itch do clear off on their own with just simple cleaning and drying of the anus. You can give it a couple of days of trying the oitments you have and if no improvement, do see a doctor.
Hope this helps and wish you the best. Please feel free to write me back if you have further questions.
Dr. Nsah
Anal itching could be due to number of reasons
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query on HCM,
I am pleased to be able to assist you with worry and I hope I will be able to give you directions on how to go about treating this condition.
Anal itching (order wise known as pruritus ani) is often an embarrassing health problem and most patients do not always want complain about this.
They are several known causes of anal itch which could be due to
- Diet (irritating chemicals in the foods we eat, such as are found in spices, hot sauces, and peppers),
- Continuous moisture of the anus especially with diarrhea which could result to yeast infection (you attempting to treat it on your own might not be the best way to go about it)
- Antibiotics treatment can cause yeast infection
- Psoriasis can also lead to pruritus ani
- Pinworm infection
- hemorrhoids
From your description, it looks like it is possible that the flu you had resulted to local yeast infection. Local treatment might be sufficient to treating the yeast, so you might require further oral antifungal such as nystatin.
At this point, I suggest you see a gastroenterologist for proper evaluation since you have already tried all over the counter drugs used for treatment of anal itch.
Most anal itch do clear off on their own with just simple cleaning and drying of the anus. You can give it a couple of days of trying the oitments you have and if no improvement, do see a doctor.
Hope this helps and wish you the best. Please feel free to write me back if you have further questions.
Dr. Nsah
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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