HAEMORRHOIDS

Symptoms

Haemorrhoids rnay present with:

• Pain/irritation
• Bright red bleeding at the end of passing motion.
• Obvious protrusion at anal margin.

Danger signs

• BEWARE: Some serious medical conditions may present with rectal bleeding. Patients with rectal bleeding mixed with motions or slime and blood mixed with motions may indicate colitis or Crohn's disease. if in doubt -Contact GP.

Notes for children

Rarely seen:

• Commonest cause of rectal bleeding - Anal fissure - Contact GP.
• Commonest cause of anal irritation - threadworms. Treat if worms definitely identified, if not Contact GP.
• Rectal prolapse may be identified as piles (in history only).

Notes for the elderly

• Avoid constipation in the long term
• Maintain high fibre diet
• Use faecal softeners
• Take adequate, fluids

General advice

• Treat to givc symptornatic relief.
• Steam inhalation can give good symptomatic relief in nasal obstruction.
• Steam (place in steamy room for safety) may help croup .

Therapy

• Soothing rectal ointments
• Soothing suppositories
• Bulk forming laxatives

Dictionary

Colitis: inflammation of the colon.
Crohn's Disease: a non specific chronic transmural inflammatory disease that most commonly affects the distaliteum and colon but may also occur in any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus and perianal area.

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