Proctitis

An inflammation of the rectum lining

Proctitis is an inflammation of the lining of the rectum, which can cause discomfort, bleeding, and other symptoms. It can be caused by various factors, including infections, inflammatory bowel disease, and radiation therapy.

Causes

Proctitis can be caused by several different factors:

• Infectious proctitis: This can be caused by sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes simplex virus, and syphilis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease: Conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can lead to proctitis.
• Radiation proctitis: This occurs as a result of radiation therapy to the pelvic area, often used to treat cancers such as prostate cancer or cervical cancer.
• Non-infectious proctitis: This can be caused by trauma, allergic reactions, or other non-infectious factors.

Symptoms

The symptoms of proctitis can vary depending on the underlying cause but often include:

• Rectal pain and discomfort
• Bleeding from the rectum
• A feeling of urgency to have a bowel movement
• Diarrhea
• Mucus discharge from the rectum

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of proctitis typically involves a combination of:

• Medical history and physical examination
• Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to visualize the rectum and obtain biopsies
• Laboratory tests to identify infectious agents

Treatment

The treatment of proctitis depends on the underlying cause:

• Infectious proctitis: Treated with appropriate antibiotics or antiviral medications.
• Inflammatory bowel disease: Managed with anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressants, or biologics.
• Radiation proctitis: Treatment may include medications to reduce inflammation, endoscopic procedures, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Radiation Proctitis

Radiation proctitis can cause significant inflammation and damage to the rectal lining.

Radiation proctitis is a specific type of proctitis that occurs after radiation therapy. It can be acute or chronic, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe bleeding and ulceration. Management strategies focus on symptom relief and healing of the rectal tissue.

Prevention

Preventive measures for proctitis depend on the cause:

• Safe sexual practices can reduce the risk of infectious proctitis.
• Careful planning and delivery of radiation therapy can minimize the risk of radiation proctitis.
• Management of inflammatory bowel disease can help prevent flare-ups of proctitis.

Related pages

• Rectum
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Radiation therapy
• Sexually transmitted infection