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Proctitis
Proctitis is defined as an inflammation of the anus and the lining of the rectum, affecting only the last 6 inches of the rectum. Additional recommended knowledge
OverviewSymptoms are ineffectual straining to empty the bowels, diarrhea, rectal bleeding and possible discharge, a feeling that you didn't adequately empty the bowels, involuntary spasms and cramping during bowel movements, left-sided abdominal pain, passage of mucus through the rectum and anorectal pain. CausesProctitis is commonly caused by STDs, but are also caused by non-sexually transmitted infections, auto-immune disease of the colon (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, harmful physical agents, chemicals, foreign objects placed in rectum, and trauma to the anorectal area. It may also occur independently (idiopathic proctitis). Rarer causes include damage by irradiation (for example in radiation therapy for cervical cancer) or as a sexually transmitted infection, as in lymphogranuloma venereum and herpes proctitis. Proctitis is also linked to stress and recent studies suggest it results from an intolerance to gluten. SymptomsA common symptom people have is a continuing urge to have a bowel movement, the rectum could feel full or have constipation. Tenderness and mild irritation in the rectum and anal region. A serious symptom is pus and blood in the discharge, accompanied by cramps and pain during the bowel movement. If there is severe bleeding, a condition called anemia can also be caused, showing symptoms of pale skin, irritability, weakness, dizziness, brittle nails, and shortness of breath. Sexually transmitted proctitisGonorrhea (Gonococcal proctitis)
Chlamydia (chlamydia proctitis)
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 (herpes proctitis)
Syphilis (syphilitic proctitis)
TreatmentBy looking inside the rectum with a proctoscope or a sigmoidoscope doctors can diagnose proctitis. A biopsy is taken, in which the doctor scrapes a tiny piece of tissue from the rectum, and this tissue is then tested. The physician may also take a stool sample to test for infections or bacteria. If the physician suspects that the patient suffers from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, colonoscopy or barium enema x-rays are used to examine areas of the intestine. Treatment for proctitis varies depending on severity and the cause. For example, the physician may prescribe antibiotics for proctitis caused by bacterial infection. If the proctitis is caused by Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, the physician may prescribe the drug 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5ASA) or corticosteroids applied directly to the area in enema or suppository form, or taken orally in pill form. Enema and suppository applications are usually more effective, but some patients may require a combination of oral and rectal applications.
Categories: Inflammations | Conditions diagnosed by stool test |
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Proctitis". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |