When a person develops an abscess beside the anus, it is advisable to start antibiotics as soon as possible.
A small percentage of patients with anal abscess (fewer than 30%) can heal with antibiotics and not require surgery.
However, if you have a fever or if the abscess is large (more than 2cm diameter), antibiotics alone are very unlikely to work and surgery should be performed.
The surgery should be performed as soon as possible to avoid a worsening abscess. Early surgery also avoids a large wound which takes longer to heal.
