One of the worrisome questions of people with hemorrhoidal disease is “do hemorrhoids smell?” Most articles online provide the symptoms which are: painful or sensitive lump adjacent to the anus, swelling in the anal region, discomfort or pain, irritation or itchiness around the anus, painless bleeding during defecation, and fecal leakage. However, some people are bothered if their hemorrhoids might smell. There are lots of truths and myths as regards to that dilemma.
The answer to the question is relative. Not all victims of hemorrhoids will suffer from such dilemma. This is because the “smelly” hemorrhoids that some people are complaining about are commonly caused by the leakage of feces. As mentioned earlier, fecal leakage is one of the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Not all symptoms may be present to an individual with this condition. That’s why some may not experience the dilemma of “smelly” anus.
There are two kinds of hemorrhoids or piles. These are internal and external hemorrhoids. The location of the lump or lumps determines whether the hemorrhoid is an external or internal one. Leakage of the fecal matter is more common to people with external hemorrhoids. This happens mainly because the lump just outside the anus will prevent or make it difficult for the anus to close. As a result, some fecal matter that remains in the anus will slip and thus, causing the horrible smell of hemorrhoids.
There are people who thought that their hemorrhoids smell because of the food they have eaten. There is a truth in this belief. Of course, fecal matter is a by-product of the food digested by a person. When the fecal matter slips into the anus of a victim of hemorrhoids, it could smell.
However, when the slipped fecal matter is really stinking, it is not the piles that smell. The person may be suffering from other internal diseases such as liver cirrhosis. It may also be caused by his or her diet and/or medication.
If a person answers the question, “do hemorrhoids smell?” with a defeated yes, he or she has nothing to worry about. There are preventive measures against such dilemma. The most important of which is to get rid of hemorrhoids. If that is not manageable right away, a person could have other options.
One can use sitz baths to get rid of the smell. Sitz baths are beneficial to sufferers because these can also relieve other symptoms of the disease such as irritation, itchiness, swelling and discomfort.
Aside from using sitz baths, one must observe proper hygiene. A person with hemorrhoids should keep the anal area clean and dry. He or she must use unscented tissues to ensure dryness. Aside from that, he or she must not use harsh soaps during baths. This is because scented, wet and harsh soaps contain chemicals that may lead to the irritation of the anal area or even the piles.
In conclusion, the answer to the question, “do hemorrhoids smell?” depends upon a person’s situation. The truth is: this disease does not really cause a horrible smell. Fecal leakage and the location of the dilemma are to be blamed for the smell.
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