Proctitis | Chronic Proctitis Symptoms, Causes and Diagnosis
Proctitis Definition
- Inflammation of the rectal mucosa is known as proctitis. It may be associated with similar disease of the colon when the condition is called procto-colitis.
- Proctitis may be chronic or acute.
Symptom of Proctitis
- The typical symptom of proctitis is tenesmus. This is an intense desire to defecate, but the amount of feces passed is small; instead blood, mucus and even pus are passed.
- Acute proctitis is associated with prodromal symptoms such as fever, malaise etc.
Causes of Proctitis
- Idiopathic non-specific proctitis is the most common variety and its etiology is still unknown.
- Ulcerative proctitis, as a part of ulcerative colitis is common.
- Bacillary dysentery may cause even acute purulent proctitis with multiple small shallow ulcers.
- Amebic dysentery produces chronic proctitis with appearance of amebic ulcer.
- Tuberculous proctitis is always secondary to active pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculous anal fistula may be associated with it.
- Gonococcal proctitis (due to gonorrhea) occurs from rectal coitus. It occurs in both sexes. It may lead to acute proctitis.
- Syphilitic proctitis- primary focal lesion may be inside the anus.
Diagnosis of Proctitis
- On rectal examination the mucosa of the rectum is swollen and tender.
On the glove of the finger one may find blood smear. - Sigmoidoscopy- it will reveal red edematous inflamed mucosa with small ulcers of the rectum.
- Smear- taking from the rectal mucosa should be sent for bacteriological report. One may do culture of the stool.
- Swabs may be taken from the ulcers for bacteriological examination.
- Biopsy may be required to exclude carcinoma.
