Anal fistula
An anal fistula is a tiny passage that forms between the end of the bowel and the skin around the anus. This condition often arises from an infection near the anus, leading to a build-up of pus (known as an abscess) in the surrounding tissue. Once the pus drains, it can create a small channel. Anal fistulas can lead to uncomfortable symptoms, including pain and skin irritation, and they typically do not heal without medical intervention.
Common symptoms:
When to seek medical help
If you are experiencing ongoing symptoms of an anal fistula, it's important to see your GP. They will inquire about your symptoms and any existing bowel conditions you may have. The doctor may also perform an examination of your anus and gently conduct a rectal examination by inserting a finger to look for indications of a fistula. Should the GP suspect a fistula, they can refer you to a colorectal surgeon for additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and identify the best treatment options. Possible tests may include a further physical and rectal examination, a proctoscopy, which involves using a special telescope with a light to examine the inside of your anus, or imaging tests such as an ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan.
Professionals who treat anal fistula (99)
Dr Daiva Pitkauskiene
Specialist Endodontist
Mr Ayo Oshowo
Consultant laparoscopic and colorectal surgeon
Mr Fraz Ansari
Consultant surgeon with an interest
Mr James Pitt
Consultant surgeon
Mr Javed Arain
Surgeon with interest
Dr Eve Hepburn
Consultant Psychologist
Mr Emin Carapeti
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Amir Darakhshan
Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Anthony Antoniou
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Professor Richard Cohen
Colorectal Surgery
Dr Javier Perez
Dentistry and Dental implant
Professor Lee Dvorkin
Colorectal Surgery
Professor Irshad Shaikh
Consultant
Dr Nicky Kimber-Rogal
Psychologist and Therapist
Mr Jason Smith
General and gastrointestinal surgeon
Mr Eriberto Farinella
Surgery
Mr Tarun Singhal
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Noman Zafar
Surgery
Professor Deena Harji
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Khalid Khan
Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
Dr Adi Moran
Endodontics
Mr Adam Stearns
Consultant general and colorectal surgeon and Surgery
Mr Vanash Patel
Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon
Mr Najib Daulatzai
Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
Ms Linda Ferrari
Consultant Colorectal, Pelvic Floor, and Emergency General Surgeon
Dr Jeremy Lynch
Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist
Mr Deepak Singh-Ranger
Surgery
Miss Sarah Mills
Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Jonathan van Dellen
Consultant colorectal and general surgeon
Miss Alexandra Cope
Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Dominic Coull
Consultant Laparoscopic Hernia and Colorectal Surgeon
Professor Charles Knowles
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Professor Christian Mehl
Specialist
Mr Sebastian Smolarek
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Adam Kimble
Consultant general and colorectal surgeon and Colorectal Surgery
Mr Diwakar Ryali Sarma
Colorectal surgeon
Professor Tan Arulampalam
Surgery
Mr Henry Ferguson
Colorectal Surgery and Surgery
Ms Cinzia Sammartino
Surgery
Mr Richard Lovegrove
Colorectal Surgery
Dr David Selouk
Specialist
Dr Richard Kahan
Specialist
Mr Gareth Bashir
Consultant general and colorectal surgeon
Mr Haney Youssef
Consultant colorectal, general & peritoneal surgeon
Mr Joseph William Nunoo-Mensah
Colorectal Surgery
Dr Astrid Dangoor
Restorative dentist
Mr Abhay Chopada
Colorectal and General Surgery
Mr Alfredo Tonsi
Surgery
Mr Andrew Brian Williams
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Arun Shanmuganandan
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Ashish Sinha
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Ashish Kelkar
Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
Dr Ashok Reddy
Dentistry
Mr Atif Alvi
Colorectal, Laparoscopic & General surgeon
Mr Sanjaya Wijeyekoon
Colorectal Surgery
Ms Santhini Jeyarajah
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Chokkalingam Arun
Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Chris Macklin
Consultant colorectal surgeon
Dr Satinder Matharu
Endodontics
Mr Chris Nicolay
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Corneliu Gherasim
Specialist Endodontist
Professor Dale Vimalachandran
colorectal surgery and Consultant
Mr Daniel Baird
Consultant general and colorectal surgeon
Mr David James
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Professor Federico Foschi
Endodontics
Mr Gordon Neil Buchanan
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Harkiran Seehra
Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon
Mr Heman Joshi
Consultant General, Colorectal, and Minimally Invasive Surgeon
Mr Hitesh Patel
Consultant General, Laparoscopic and Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Tushar Agarwal
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Josef Watfah
Surgery
Mr Abhilash Paily
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Charles Evans
Surgery
Mr George Reese
Colorectal Surgery
Mr John Stebbing
Surgery
Mrs Katie Yeadon
Colorectal Surgery
Ms Lynn Stevenson
Colorectal Surgery
Dr Mark Hudson-Peacock
Medical director and Consultant dermatologist and dermatological surgeon
Dr Michael Sultan
Endodontics
Mr Michail Klimovskij
General and colorectal surgeon
Dr Millie Argyriadou
Cosmetic and Restorative Dentist
Ms Rosa Santa Cruz
Consultant general surgeon
Dr Nik Vourakis
Dental implant surgeon
Dr Nikolaos Kasiteridis
Cosmetic and Restorative Dentist
Mr Nikhil Pawa
Colorectal Surgery
Dr Osman Menla
Dentistry
Mr Pasquale Giordano
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Paul Skinner
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Petr J Hanek
Consultant Surgeon
Mr Raj Harshen
Surgery
Dr Samantha Yong
Psychology
Mr Savvas Papagrigoriadis
Colorectal Surgery
Mr Sean Ramcharan
Surgery
Mr Shashank Gurjar
General & colorectal surgeon
Mr Sumit Sood
Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon and Surgery
Ms Tamzin Cuming
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Thomas Roe
Consultant colorectal and general surgeon
Mr Vamsi Velchuru
Consultant General, Laparoscopic, and Colorectal Surgeon
Mr Vijay Manda
Colorectal Surgery