Proctitis

General Information on Proctitis

Proctitis is an inflammation of the rectum and the tissues surrounding the anus. There are two types of proctitis: acute and chronic. The condition can occur in both sexes and at any age, but is most common in males around the age of the 30. Proctitis may have many causes. However, risk is known to increase with certain sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and the herpes simplex virus.

Symptoms of Proctitis

Symptoms of proctitis include:

Rectal pain
Blood discharge from the rectum
Mucus discharge from the rectum
Urge to have a bowel movement when no stool is present
Cramping pain in the lower left abdomen
Fever

Treatments For Proctitis

Your health care provider will perform an exam of the rectum. Additional medical tests for proctitis may include blood studies, stool cultures, and tests for sexually transmitted diseases associated with the condition. Other diagnostic tests, such as a protoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy may be performed in order to rule out other disorders.

Treatment of proctitis is usually aimed at addressing the underlying cause. Most of these treatment will use antibiotics, antiviral medication, such as Acyclovir (in the case of a herpes simplex infection), and anti-inflammatory medication. In rare cases, surgery may be required. Most cases of proctitis can be cured by treating the underlying cause. Other cases can usually be controlled or relieved.

If you are experiencing symptoms similar to those listed above, contact your doctor immediately to avoid complications.

Personal Experience

Proctitis - personal experiences