An anorectal abscess is treated by draining the pus, and antibiotics alone will not cure it.
What changes is where and how the drainage happens. A small abscess close to the skin can often be numbed and opened in a clinic or emergency department the same day, while a deeper or larger one is drained in an operating room under anesthesia. Antibiotics are added on top of drainage when you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, a heart valve condition, or infection spreading into the surrounding skin. After drainage, warm water soaks a few times a day, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, fiber and fluids, and a stool softener keep bowel movements comfortable while the wound closes from the inside out. Some abscesses leave behind a small tunnel called a fistula, which needs a separate procedure to fix, so keep your follow-up visit even if you feel better.
How an abscess is treated
Common questions
How is Anorectal abscess treated?
An anorectal abscess is treated by draining the pus. Antibiotics alone will not clear it, because the infection sits in a closed pocket that has to be opened. A clinician numbs the area and makes a small incision so the pus drains out; simple abscesses are often handled in a clinic or emergency department the same day, while deep or large ones are drained in an operating room. Afterward, you soak in warm water a few times a day, keep the area clean and dry, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and take a stool softener with extra fiber and fluids. Antibiotics get added if you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, or redness spreading beyond the abscess. Some abscesses later form a fistula that needs a second procedure.