MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Proctitis

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Proctitis

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Digestive system

Rectum

Alternative names Return to top

Inflammation - rectum; Rectal inflammation

Definition Return to top

Proctitis is an inflammation of the rectum which causes discomfort, bleeding, and occasionally, a discharge of mucus or pus.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Proctitis is an inflammatory condition involving the anus and rectum. There are many causes of proctitis, but they can be grouped in the following categories:

Sexually-transmitted disease
Non-sexually transmitted infection
Autoimmune disease
Noxious agents

Proctitis caused by sexually-transmitted disease occurs with high frequency among men and women who engage in anal intercourse. Sexually-transmitted diseases which can cause proctitis include gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia, and lymphogranuloma venereum. Amebiasis is another disease which can cause proctitis and can be transmitted by ano-oral sex.

Non-sexually transmitted infections causing proctitis are seen less frequently than STD proctitis. The classical example of non-sexually transmitted infection occurs in children and is caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus, the same organism which causes strep throat. Autoimmune proctitis is associated with diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

Proctitis may also be caused by physical agents including chemicals inserted into the rectum, medications and radiation. Radiation proctitis is seen in association with radiotherapy as part of cancer treatment.

Risk factors include high-risk sexual practices such as anal sex, and autoimmune disorders.

Symptoms Return to top

Rectal pain or discomfort
Rectal bleeding
Rectal discharge, pus
Bloody stools
Constipation
Tenesmus (pain with defecation)

Signs and tests Return to top

Proctoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Rectal culture
Examination of stool sample

Treatment Return to top

Successful treatment of the underlying cause usually cures the problem. Proctitis caused by infection is treated with antibiotics specific for the causative organism. Corticosteroids or mesalamine suppositories may relieve symptoms in Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The probable outcome is good with treatment.

Complications Return to top

Severe bleeding
Anemia
Recto-vaginal fistula (women)
Anal fistula

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of proctitis develop.

Prevention Return to top

Safer sex behaviors may prevent the disease from being spread by sexual transmission.

Update Date: 10/9/2003

Updated by: Christian Stone, M. D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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