Can I eat prawns if I have perianal abscess?

Patients with perianal abscess are not recommended to eat high-protein, high-purine seafood such as prawns during the acute attack period. Such foods may increase dampness and heat in the body, aggravate the inflammatory response, and affect the recovery of the disease. Patients should focus on a light diet and avoid irritating foods to improve intestinal health and promote wound healing.

1. Relationship between perianal abscess and diet

Perianal abscess is a purulent inflammation caused by infection of perianal tissues, which is often manifested as local swelling, pain and abscess formation. Seafood such as prawns are high-protein, high-purine foods that can stimulate the body to produce more inflammatory reactions and may aggravate the discomfort of local lesions. Especially in the early stage of abscess or postoperative recovery, seafood can easily cause local fever and swelling and delay wound repair.

Patients are advised to eat a low-fat, low-fiber diet during the acute and recovery phases to avoid increasing the intestinal burden. At the same time, drinking more water and eating easily digestible food can help soften stool, reduce irritation to the anus during defecation, and reduce the possibility of secondary infection.

2. Why are prawns not suitable?

Prawns and other seafood contain high levels of purine, which can easily increase the level of uric acid in the body, may cause inflammatory reactions, and may also increase wound secretions. In addition, their nature is warm, which can easily aggravate damp heat or inflammatory constitutions and induce the spread of local tissue inflammation.

More importantly, many people are sensitive to seafood protein and may have allergic reactions after eating it. If the allergy causes damage to the local immune barrier, it will further increase the risk of recurrence of infection.

3. What diet is more conducive to the recovery of perianal abscess?

The following dietary regimen is recommended to help relieve symptoms and promote healing:

-Light diet: The diet should be mainly composed of vegetables (such as spinach, Chinese cabbage) and fruits (such as apples and bananas). You can eat rice porridge, sweet potatoes, etc. in moderation to help improve intestinal peristalsis function.

- Anti-inflammatory foods: Vitamin-rich foods (such as oranges and tomatoes) help enhance the body’s immunity and reduce inflammatory responses.

-Protein choices: You can replace seafood with lean meat, eggs, or tofu to provide enough high-quality protein without increasing the risk of inflammation.

4. Pay special attention after surgery or when there are complications

If the patient with perianal abscess undergoes surgery, diet is particularly important during the postoperative recovery phase. Avoid any food that may irritate the wound, such as spicy, greasy, raw and cold food. Do not consume alcohol and pickled foods to avoid affecting the healing speed of the wound. Postoperative constipation is a common problem. You can consume more dietary fiber and water, but not too much, so as not to cause intestinal distension and discomfort.

Postoperative care also includes keeping the anus clean, changing the dressing regularly, and following the doctor's reexamination instructions. If the patient has underlying diseases such as diabetes, hyperuricemia, or immunodeficiency, a personalized diet plan should be developed based on the advice of a nutritionist or doctor.

5. The importance of adjusting your lifestyle

In addition to diet, maintaining a good work and rest schedule and moderate exercise are also the key to the recovery of perianal abscess. Cleaning the anus after defecation, avoiding long periods of sitting, and changing unhealthy habits such as staying up late can help enhance overall immunity.

The dietary focus of patients with perianal abscess is "light, balanced, and non-irritating". Although seafood such as prawns are rich in nutrients, they are not suitable for consumption during the acute or recovery period of perianal abscess due to their characteristics. Patients are advised to pay attention to dietary regulation, consult a doctor in time if they have any questions, actively prevent recurrence, and create better internal and external conditions for physical recovery!