“KNOCK! knock! Knock!!!”(He said, as he knocked at the consulting room door).
Doctor: Come right in.
Patient: Good morning, sir
Doctor: Do have your seat (Pointing out a chair for him, who stood at a distance, due to social distancing as advocated by COVID-19 protocol.)
Patient: Doc, I have this terrible itch around by anus. It’s quite embarrassing and often times, I end up inflicting injuries on it. I’m now applying dettol inside my bathing water without much improvement.
Symptom: Itch at the anal area.
Causes
Hygiene problems: Not wiping enough after bowel movement may allow feaces to remain on the skin and lead to irritation. Too much wiping and cleaning of the anal area can also dry or irritate the skin. Wipe your anal area completely but gently. When you bath or shower, don’t scrub the anal area too hard and don’t use a rough wash cloth, use a mild soap.
Infestations: A pinworm infestation can cause anal itching at night, when the adult worm comes to the surface of the skin to lay eggs.
Treatment: Consists of taking an oral medicine to kill the worms. A steroid cream, such as hydrocortisone cream may relieve itching (it will be better to see a doctor).
Skin conditions: Fungal infections, psoriasis, eczema or contact dermatitis may cause itching anywhere on the body, including the skin around the anus.
Treatment: Antifungal medicine can help relieve the symptoms and kill the infection.
Other problems: Hemorrhoids or loose muscles around the anus can result in fluid leakage from the anal canal, which irritates and chaps the skin. The skin irritation usually causes itching and in pain in the rectal area.
Treatment: See a doctor
. Dr Azugo wrote from Nyanya General Hospital, Abuja.
