Haemorrhoids in Khartoum.

Five hundreds and seventy two patients with haemorrhoids seen during the period 1981-1984 in the rectal clinic at Khartoum Teaching Hospital and a general surgical clinic at Soba University Hospital were studied. Pure internal piles were found in 39.86% of patients, both internal and external components were found in 33.22%, only external component was found in 5.07% and there was a miscellaneous group of 125(20%) patients. Constipation was noted in 21% of patients suffering from haemorrhoids. Patients with pure internal piles were best treated conservatively--89% responded to local ointments, injection or rubber band ligation while 11% required surgery. In the second group with both internal and external components--66% responded to conservative treatment. In patients with pure external component like those with skin tags, reassurance was all that was needed whereas those with external piles were treated by surgical excision. In the miscellaneous group the three main diagnosis were acute or subacute prolapsed piles (43 patients), perianal haematomas (25 patients) and bilharzia with piles (20 patients).