Diagnosis
Diagnosis is by examination, either in an outpatient setting or under anaesthesia (referred to as EUA – Examination Under Anaesthesia). The examination can be an anoscopy.
Possible findings:
- The opening of the fistula onto the skin may be seen
- The area may be painful on examination
- There may be redness
- An area of induration may be felt – thickening due to chronic infection
- A discharge may be seen
- It may be possible to explore the fistula using a fistula probe (a narrow instrument) and in this way it may be possible to find both openings of the fistula