Fissure in Ano

FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 A specific class of anti-inflammatory drugs can help children avoid a debilitating complication of Crohn’s disease . A new study published recently in the journal Gut shows children with Crohn's who were prescribed anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) drugs following their diagnosis had an 82% lower risk of anal fistulas, or tunnels that develop from inside the anus to the skin outside. These tunnels appear as open draining sores near the anus, and increase a child’s risk of infections or organ damage, researchers said. About 70% of kids who develop an anal fistula require at least one surgical procedure, researchers said. This frequently involves fitting the child with a colostomy bag. “If we can prevent these disease complications, that’s way better than trying to address them once they develop, because they’re so hard to treat,” lead researcher Dr. Jeremy Adler , a clinical professor of pediatric gastroenterology with the University of Michigan, said in a news release. About 40,000 children in the U.S. suffer from Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the gut that causes diarrhea, cramping and pain. Of those children, about one in three will develop anal fistulas, researchers said. For the study, researchers tracked more than 900 children newly diagnosed with Crohn’s. They found that prescribing anti-TNF drugs like infliximab and adalimumab from the outset significantly decreased a child’s risk of anal fistulas. These drugs block TNF, a substance that causes inflammation. This was particularly true for children who had already developed large skin tags, ulcers or fissures near their anus. The presence of these lesions quadruples a child’s odds of anal fissures, study results show. But for those kids, anti-TNF drugs decreased their risk of anal fistulas by 93%, researchers found. Anti-TNF drugs are pricier than other anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat Crohn’s like azathioprine and methotrexate , researchers said. However, these results show that anti-TNF drugs might be worth the added cost, if they can help kids avoid anal fistulas that are even more expensive to treat, Adler said. “For the insurance companies, you prevent the fistulas and all the downstream complications those cost,” Adler said. “For the physician, it shows this is really the more efficacious treatment.” “For the families, it’s a question of which drug. And this group of medicines is so effective at preventing complications," Adler concluded. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 A specific class of anti-inflammatory drugs can help children avoid a debilitating complication of Crohn’s disease . A new study published recently in the journal Gut shows children with Crohn's who were prescribed anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) drugs following their diagnosis had an 82% lower risk of anal fistulas, or tunnels that develop from inside the anus to the skin outside. These tunnels appear as open draining sores near the anus, and increase a child’s risk of infections or organ damage, researchers said. About 70% of kids who develop an anal fistula require at least one surgical procedure, researchers said. This frequently involves fitting the child with a colostomy bag. “If we can prevent these disease complications, that’s way better than trying to address them once they develop, because they’re so hard to treat,” lead researcher Dr. Jeremy Adler , a clinical professor of pediatric gastroenterology with the University of Michigan, said in a news release. About 40,000 children in the U.S. suffer from Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the gut that causes diarrhea, cramping and pain. Of those children, about one in three will develop anal fistulas, researchers said. For the study, researchers tracked more than 900 children newly diagnosed with Crohn’s. They found that prescribing anti-TNF drugs like infliximab and adalimumab from the outset significantly decreased a child’s risk of anal fistulas. These drugs block TNF, a substance that causes inflammation. This was particularly true for children who had already developed large skin tags, ulcers or fissures near their anus. The presence of these lesions quadruples a child’s odds of anal fissures, study results show. But for those kids, anti-TNF drugs decreased their risk of anal fistulas by 93%, researchers found. Anti-TNF drugs are pricier than other anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat Crohn’s like azathioprine and methotrexate , researchers said. However, these results show that anti-TNF drugs might be worth the added cost, if they can help kids avoid anal fistulas that are even more expensive to treat, Adler said. “For the insurance companies, you prevent the fistulas and all the downstream complications those cost,” Adler said. “For the physician, it shows this is really the more efficacious treatment.” “For the families, it’s a question of which drug. And this group of medicines is so effective at preventing complications," Adler concluded. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Aisha Akhtar, MD, FCPS, is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Healthcare Professional for her contributions to the field of Colorectal Surgery. Continue Reading Aisha Akhtar Dr. Akhtar pursued higher education at the Army Medical College, National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad, Pakistan where she earned an MBBS. She then completed a surgical residency at Shiffa International Hospital in Pakistan and relocated to the United States at the age of 29 where she finished a surgical oncology fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas; a surgical residency at Texas Tech University in Lubbock; Penn State Medical Cente; and St. Agnes Hospital. The doctor is FCPS certified in Pakistan and board certified by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) in the United States. Dr. Akhtar explained that the ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge. According to the doctor, colorectal surgery is a field in medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. It involves caring for patients with cancers of the colon, rectum, and anus, along with other benign disorders, like inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease); diverticulitis; and a myriad of anorectal pathologies, like hemorrhoids, fistulas, abscesses, and fissures. Specializing in the treatment of benign and malignant conditions, Dr. Akhtar practices at Arizona Advanced Surgery in Glendale Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona. She is an expert in treating many different ailments including cancers of the colon and rectum; inflammatory bowel disease; hemorrhoids; anal fissures; anal fistulas; pelvic floor problems; and fecal incontinence. The doctor is a general surgeon and also performs colonoscopies using the latest surgical techniques to treat the full range of colorectal disorders from simple to complex and notes that she is committed to providing quality care to patients with compassion and dignity. A testament to her professional and acumen in the field, Dr. Akhtar is licensed to practice in New York; Maryland; and Arizona; and is affiliated with HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center; HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center; HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center; HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center; and HonorHealth Sonoran Crossing Medical Center. The doctor is trained in the most advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the colon rectum and anus and maintains affiliation with many professional organizations including the American College of Surgery; the American Medical Association; the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons; and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. She is also a distinguished Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. The doctor has published in various medical journals, including International Surgery Journal and Cureus, and has presented many posters at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dr. Akhtar asserts that she is ardent about being a female colorectal surgeon to provide personal care to female patients who want female providers for medical care and feel ashamed to discuss anorectal problems with male surgeons. Expanding her reach into underserved populations, she also specializes in screening for anal cancer in the LGBT-Q population and performs anal PAP smears and High-Resolution Anoscope's for high-risk patients. Dr. Akhtar lives in Scottsdale and enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her two sons in her spare time. She has been married to Mr. Muhammad Khawaja for 9 years. The doctor speaks multiple languages including English, Hindi, and Urdu, and volunteers her time with the Islamic Society of the Northeast Valley Free Clinic, providing educational seminars and seeing patients who are underinsured. Dr. Akhtar would like to dedicate this honor to her mother, Mrs. Kosar Praveen. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle