An abscess is a localized collection of pus. In perianal abscess, a localized collection of pus can either occur near the anus under the skin, or deeper, adjacent to the rectum. Perianal abscesses are the most common type of anorectal abscesses 1). Perianal abscesses are more common in patients with diabetes mellitus, Crohn’s disease, and patients who are immunocompromised for any reason. Perianal abscess affects men more than women. Perianal abscess may occur in infants and toddlers who are still in diapers and who have a history of anal fissures. Perianal abscess rarely goes away on its own. Antibiotics alone usually cannot treat an abscess.
The prevalence of perianal abscesses and anorectal abscesses, in general, are underestimated, since most patients do not seek medical attention, or are dismissed as symptomatic hemorrhoids. It is estimated that there are approximately 100,000 cases of the benign anorectal disease in general. The mean age at presentation is 40 years old, and adult males are twice as likely to develop with abscess than females.