Haemorrhoids (Piles)
Haemorrhoids, called piles in Nigeria, are swollen cushions of blood vessels in and around the anus. Straining on the toilet, constipation, a low-fibre diet, pregnancy and long hours sitting all make them worse. Most are managed with diet changes and simple treatment. They are not caused by eating sugar or sweet food, and the many 'pile' herbs and tablets sold in markets do not cure them. Bleeding from the back passage should always be examined, because other conditions, including bowel cancer, can bleed the same way.
Find a General Surgery SpecialistMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- Bright red blood on the tissue or in the toilet after stooling
- A lump or swelling at the anus
- A lump that comes out when you stool and goes back, or has to be pushed back
- Itching or irritation around the anus
- Discomfort or a feeling of incomplete emptying
- Sudden severe pain with a hard, purple lump (thrombosed pile)
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor for any bleeding from the back passage, even if you are sure it is piles: it needs one examination to be certain. See a surgeon if piles keep coming back, bleed often or have to be pushed back in. Go to hospital urgently for heavy bleeding, feeling faint, black or tarry stools, or a very painful lump that cannot be pushed back. See a doctor promptly if you are over 40 with a change in bowel habit, weight loss or blood mixed into the stool.
Treatment options
- More fibre and water, and not straining on the toilet
- Stool softeners and soothing creams for short-term relief
- Rubber band ligation, done in clinic without an anaesthetic
- Injection sclerotherapy
- Haemorrhoidectomy (surgical removal) for large or persistent piles
- Stapled haemorrhoidopexy or haemorrhoid artery ligation in selected cases
What it costs on Mezo
Published cash prices for the operations used to treat this condition. Your own quote follows an examination.
Common Questions
Does eating sugar cause piles?
No. This is a common belief in Nigeria, but sugar does not cause haemorrhoids. Straining because of constipation is the main driver, so fibre and water matter far more than sweet food.
Can piles go away without surgery?
Most do. Small haemorrhoids usually settle with more fibre, more water and not straining. Many that do not settle can be treated in clinic with banding. Surgery is for large, prolapsing or persistent piles.
Is bleeding from the anus always piles?
No. Anal fissures, polyps, inflammatory bowel disease and bowel cancer can all bleed. Piles are the commonest cause, but an examination, and sometimes a colonoscopy, is needed to be sure, especially after 40.
How painful is pile surgery?
Haemorrhoidectomy is sore for one to two weeks, with the first few bowel movements the worst. Pain relief, stool softeners and warm sitz baths help. Most people are back at desk work within about two weeks.
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