Symptoms of Piles

Piles refer to a chronic medical condition that is common in millions of individuals all over the world. Symptoms of piles vary from minor to moderate to severe and needs to be taken under medical supervision as soon as the first signs arise, because at the initial stage it is better treated than in the later stage. Piles or as it is called in medical terminology hemorrhoids are basically lumps of masses in the anal canal that causes various kinds of painful or irritating syndromes, ranging from swelling or inflammation to secretion of blood. The problem is generally of chronic character and with persistent medical treatment can easily be cured, though remained untreated it can develop severe medical complications and can lead to surgical treatment as well.

What is Piles?

In relation to our discussion on symptoms of piles we first of all should have a look at the clinical definition of piles. Remember all hemorrhoids are not piles, but only those with painful syndromes or causing inflammation in the anal canal are called piles. Piles are also hemorrhoids but they are called to be so only when the hemorrhoids or lumps of masses in the anal canal shows symptoms that are pathological in nature meaning inflammation or swelling caused by them. Piles normally happen in adults and certain number of adult population are regular victim of this medical condition. Piles are common both in males and females and though the relationship between ageing and piles is not yet established, the problem mostly occurs in people in their late forties or age above than that.

Symptoms

Let us now look at the symptoms of piles in relation to various stages of development of the problem.

1. Just at the initial stage which is also called as first degree piles, the swelling or inflammation felt inside the anal canal and although it may bleed as well the piles at this stage is not seen from outside.
2. Slightly larger size of piles without any significant change in the symptoms at the initial stage can be observed to come out at the time of bowels movement that also goes inside afterwards.
3. In the developed state the piles come out of the anus and hang outside. The symptoms of piles at this stage is very painful as this causes immense swelling and pain in bowels movement and even at this stage the blood inside the piles may clot causing more inflammation and painful syndromes.
4. In many cases even internal piles can develop into necrotic form by clotting of blood in them and thus can be severely painful.
5. Even though you are seeing nothing unusually sticking out of anus, extreme irritation in the area can be an indication to piles.
6. The most common and important indication of internal piles is the secretion of blood with stools which must be examined at the earliest.
7. Apart from or along with bleeding severe and persistent itching and irritation is a common symptom of piles.