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Clinical features

Authoring team

Haemorrhoids often only produce intermittent symptoms. Symptomatic episodes are often precipitated by constipation. These episodes usually last from a few days to a few weeks. Often they are completely asymptomatic between episodes.

Clinical features of haemorrhoids (piles) include:

bright red bleeding after defaecation:

  • may just stain the toilet paper or streak the faeces (it is not mixed in)
  • if copious it may splash around the lavatory pan

  • faecal soiling due to impaired continence

  • mucus discharge

  • pruritus ani, caused by a persistent discharge irritating the perianal skin

 

  • a feeling of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement if prolapse occurs

  • occasionally pain:
    • thrombosis may cause acute severe anal pain occasionally necessitating hospital admission

  • grades 2-4 may be felt as a rectal mass

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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