Inflammation of Rectum

Buttock Rectum | Urology | Inflammation of Rectum (Symptom)


Description

A person with proctitis has inflammation of the rectum, usually due to a bacterial or viral infection.

Causes

The most common causes of proctitis are sexually transmitted diseases. Proctitis caused by sexually transmitted diseases are common among people who engage in anal intercourse. Sexually transmitted diseases that can cause proctitis include gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia, and lymphogranuloma venereum.

The most common symptoms of proctitis include secretion of pus from the anus and anal pain worse during defecation. Other symptoms may include diarrhea, anal bleeding, constipation, fever, nausea, and vomiting and weight loss.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Physicians diagnose proctitis by looking inside the rectum with a proctoscope or a sigmoidoscope. A biopsy (a tiny piece of tissue from the rectum) may be removed and tested for diseases or infections. A stool sample may also reveal infecting bacteria. If the physician suspects Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, colonoscopy or barium enema x rays may be used to examine areas of the intestine.

Treatment of proctitis depends on the specific cause. For example, the physician may prescribe antibiotics for proctitis caused by bacterial infection. If the inflammation is caused by Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, the physician may recommend 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.

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