Discharge from the anus: varieties, possible causes, treatment

The anus (anal opening) is the final part of the intestines and digestive tract in the form of a round opening located between the buttocks. It is necessary for the elimination of excrement (feces) from the body and the retention of feces until the beginning of a bowel movement. The skin around the anus is light brown in color and is easily irritated by prolonged exposure to remains of feces or urine, therefore an intimate hygiene.

In a healthy person, the only anal secretions should be feces. If a clear or cloudy fluid, blood, pus, or mucus is released from the anus, you should contact a proctologist - a specialist in the treatment of rectal diseases. Some of these secretions (for example, mucus) may be an individual variant of the norm, but only a doctor can determine exactly whether such symptoms are a pathology. For diagnostics, rectal palpation, hardware and instrumental examination (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy), visual examination of the rectum using medical dilators are used. Laboratory diagnostics includes analysis of feces for helminths and coprogram.

An oily liquid comes out of the anus

The most common cause of such discharge is the abuse of fried and fatty foods. The fat norm for an adult weighing 70 kg is about 80-90 g. In men, this figure may be slightly higher (about 95 g). Persons with increased body weight, as well as those who are prone to obesity, can consume no more than 60-65 g of fat per day, with this half of the daily allowance should be animal fats (fatty fish, meat, butter). If a person consumes too much fat, drops of oily liquid without a pronounced odor may be released from the anus.

Another reason for such discharge is the use of drugs from the group lipase inhibitors - a water-soluble enzyme involved in the processes of breakdown and digestion lipids. The drugs in this group include:

• Xenical;
• Orlistat;
• Orsoten;
• Xsenalten;
• Listata.

These drugs block the absorption of lipids, and all fat that enters the body with food is excreted unchanged. in the form of an oily liquid with a saturated yellow color, which leaves hard-to-remove stains on the bottom linen. These medications are used to treat obesity and can only be used as directed by a doctor, as they are contraindicated in some cases (for example, with bile stasis).

Note! The appearance of oily discharge from the anus with diseases of the colon is a rare symptom, but sometimes inflammatory processes in the sigmoid and colon can occur against a background of a similar symptoms. In isolated cases, yellow thick drops from the anus can appear with inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas.

Discharge white or milky

"Milky" discharge from the anus almost always indicates an infectious bowel disease. To find out their nature, you should contact an infectious disease specialist.

Fungal infections

In 80% of cases, this symptom is associated with a fungal infection of the colon by unicellular microscopic fungi of the Candida family. Intestinal candidiasis (thrush) may be asymptomatic for several weeks, after which the patient there is an ascending infection of the organs of the genitourinary system: the bladder, kidneys, ureters (in women, the uterus and vagina). In half of the patients, systemic thrush develops against the background of normal body temperature, therefore, it is most often impossible to diagnose the disease at home.

The symptoms of intestinal candidiasis can be:

• anal discharge of white, grayish or milky color in the form of thick mucus or lumps (can form a dense grayish film on the surface of the stool);
• pararectal and anorectal itching, aggravated after defecation;
• increased gas formation in the intestine (manifested by a feeling of fullness, heaviness, bloating);
• abdominal pain, the intensity of which is not associated with food intake.

Treatment of intestinal candidiasis involves adherence to a diet that limits the consumption of sucrose and fermented milk products, taking antifungal drugs (Pimafucin, Fluconazole) and prebiotic cultures to restore intestinal microflora (Normobact, "Bifidumbacterin"). To prevent infection of the genitals, careful hygiene of the intimate area and the use of topical medications, such as Miconazole or Pimafucin cream, are recommended.

Parasitic infections

Intestinal helminthiasis is a dangerous infectious disease that can cause anemia, disorders hemodynamics and inflammatory processes in vital organs: liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs. In especially severe cases, damage to the heart muscle is possible (most often this occurs when infected with ascaris - worms, the length of which can reach 20-25 cm).

Discharge during infection with worms has a white or light milky hue, a slimy consistency and can look like separate streaks of clear mucus mixed with or on the faeces surface. In some cases, the only signs of helminthic invasion may be symptoms that are not directly related to the gastrointestinal tract. This is:

• strong breath;
• dark circles under the eyes;
• dryness and flaking of the skin (most often manifested on the lips);
• skin rashes;
• excessive pallor of the skin;
• low body weight;
• problems with appetite.

On the part of the intestine, helminthiasis is usually manifested by bloating, flatulence (discharge of a large amount of odorous gases), and rumbling. In some cases, the patient may feel moderate pain and cramps in the lower abdomen. For treatment, anthelmintic drugs are used ("Levamisole", "Dekaris", "Pirantel").

Note! After a course of therapy with antiparasitic drugs, laboratory control of fecal parameters is required. If worms or their eggs are found in the feces, treatment should be repeated.

Mucous discharge of different colors

Mucus is the most common type of anal discharge. Of great importance in the diagnosis for this clinical sign is the color of the discharge, therefore, when independently determining the possible causes, you can use the table below.

Table. The color of the mucus depending on the cause.

Colour	Possible causes and diseases
White or grayish	Inflammatory processes in the small intestine or various parts of the large intestine.
Transparent (colorless)	Systemic inflammation of the digestive tract (gastroenteritis), Crohn's disease.
Pink	Hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fistulas and polyps in the rectum. In some cases, pink mucus can also appear with helminthic invasion, since the mucus that forms in intestines, mixes with blood released from damaged blood vessels (helminths feed on blood).
Yellow	Inflammation of the pancreas, gallbladder, bile stasis.
Black	Latent bleeding in the intestines and stomach (thick mucus is clotted blood).

In some cases, a large amount of mucus in the stool may be a sign of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Pathology refers to an autoimmune disorder and is diagnosed if a person has there are unspecified epigastric and abdominal pains and other phenomena of dyspepsia that do not have organic reasons. IBS treatment is long-term and complex. The patient is prescribed a dietary diet that limits the use of foods that irritate the intestinal walls and stimulate the formation of gases. These are all varieties of cabbage, radish, radish, sorrel, carbonated drinks, marinades. Do not consume large amounts of salt, spices and seasonings, as well as alcohol.

Drug treatment includes taking antidepressants, antispasmodics, prebiotics to restore intestinal microflora and normalize digestion. Symptomatic therapy can be carried out with the use of antidiarrheals, laxatives and carminative drugs based on simethicone.

Discharge with an unpleasant and pungent odor

Such discharge from the anus is very rare (the prevalence reaches about 2.7%) and is always associated with infectious processes in the rectum or large intestine. This clinical picture is most typical for infectious colitis caused by pathogenic bacteria. The disease is manifested by severe pain syndrome, flatulence, stool disorder, symptoms of general intoxication. If the patient ignores the doctor's prescription, the pathology can turn into a purulent form.

In this case, the signs of the disease will be:

• anal discharge of a yellowish or beige color with a pungent odor (the smell is the result of bacterial activity and the release of toxins);
• severe pain during bowel movements (after emptying the intestines, a small amount of blood may be detected on the surface of the stool);
• an increase in temperature against the background of chills, fever, vomiting and nausea.

Antibiotics are the main drugs for treating infectious colitis. In some cases, combined treatment regimens can be used that combine antibacterial drugs from the sulfonamide group and broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. To reduce intoxication, intestinal sorbents are used. Symptomatic therapy is aimed at normalizing stool, eliminating pain and spasms, and restoring water balance (in case of severe diarrhea and vomiting). For the healing of the inflamed mucous membrane, the patient is prescribed a diet (table number 4) and stimulants of regenerative processes.

Important! Isolated cases of excretion of a caustic odorous liquid from the anus were recorded in patients with paraproctitis. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the perrectal tissue and the formation of an abscess, upon opening of which purulent exudate with a characteristic odor can be released from the anus.

Bloody issues

Even minor bloody discharge from the anus should be a reason for visiting a doctor, since a person should not normally have such symptoms. The most common disease in which blood can flow from the anus is hemorrhoids. The prevalence of this disease is about 60-80%, so today there is sufficient experience in the successful conservative treatment of hemorrhoids without the use of surgical techniques.

Impurities of blood in the feces may also indicate helminthic invasion, anal fissures, and severe inflammatory processes. When prescribing a complex of primary diagnostics, the doctor must conduct a differential examination to exclude various tumors. Benign tumors of the rectum (polyps, cysts) may show moderate bleeding between bowel movements, but more often these pathologies are asymptomatic. Malignant tumors can bleed at stages 3-4 of colorectal cancer, therefore, even in isolated cases of bloody discharge from anus should not be wasted: only the timely detection of certain diseases can guarantee a successful outcome of the treatment. Why is there a plaque on the tongue, you will find the answer here.

Video - Discharge from the anus