A fistula is essentially a tunnel connecting an infected gland inside the anus to the skin outside. The most common reason is a neglected pus-filled boil (abscess).
More than 90% of fistulas start as an infected anal gland (abscess). If the pus isn't drained properly or bursts on its own, it leaves a track behind.
In India, intestinal or local Tuberculosis is a common cause of recurrent and complex fistulas that fail to heal with standard surgery.
A type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, often leading to multiple complex fistulas.
Injury to the anal region during childbirth (obstetric trauma), previous anal surgeries, or foreign body insertion can create a fistula track.
Chronic straining can tear the anal lining (fissure), which may get infected and turn into an abscess, eventually forming a fistula.
Rarely, anal or rectal cancer, or radiation therapy used to treat cancers in the pelvic area, can weaken tissues and cause fistulas.
Many patients ignore a painful boil near the anus, thinking it will go away. When this boil bursts on its own, the pus drains out, but the internal track remains open. This track becomes a Fistula. Never ignore anal pain or swelling.
The Abscess-Fistula Cycle
"A fistula is essentially a tunnel that refused to close. Treating the initial infection correctly is the best prevention."
Dr. Jaya Maheshwari explains why 50% of anal abscesses turn into a fistula and why treating the infection early is crucial.
