Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Proctitis
Introduction
For patient information click here
Synonyms and keywords: Rectal inflammation;
Overview
Overview
Proctitis is defined as an inflammation of the anus and the lining of the rectum, affecting only the last 6 inches of the rectum.
Symptoms are ineffectual straining to empty the bowels, diarrhea, rectal bleeding and possible discharge, a feeling that you didn’t adequately empty the bowels, involuntary spasms and cramping during bowel movements, left-sided abdominal pain, passage of mucus through the rectum and anorectal pain.
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Historical Perspective
Please help WikiDoc by adding content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.
References
Pathophysiology
Please help WikiDoc by adding content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.
References
Causes
Overview
The most common causes of proctitis include sexually transmitted diseases and food-borne bacterial infections. Other causes include sources of anorectal physical trauma from injury or chemical and toxin exposure.
Causes
Common Causes
- Amebiasis
- Anal infection
- Bacillary dysentery
- Bacterial infection
- Campylobacter species
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Clostridium difficile
- Cytomegalovirus
- Entamoeba histolytica
- Giardia
- Herpes simplex
- Hiv
- Human papillomavirus
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Neisseria gonorrhoea
- Rectal infection
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Syphillis
- Trichomoniasis
- Yersinia
Causes by Organ System
| Cardiovascular | Chronic mucosal ischemia, Ischemia, Obliterative endarteritis, Vasculitis |
| Chemical/Poisoning | Chemicals, Ginkgo biloba reaction, Physical agents, Toxins |
| Dental | No underlying causes |
| Dermatologic | Anal warts |
| Drug Side Effect | Certain medications |
| Ear Nose Throat | No underlying causes |
| Endocrine | No underlying causes |
| Environmental | No underlying causes |
| Gastroenterologic | Anorectal trauma, Crohn’s disease, Giardia, Gluten intolerance, Rectal infection, Rectal injury, Ulcerative colitis |
| Genetic | Treponema pallidum |
| Hematologic | No underlying causes |
| Iatrogenic | Radiation therapy |
| Infectious Disease | Amebiasis, Anal infection, Bacillary dysentery, Bacterial infection, Campylobacter species, Chlamydia trachomatis, Clostridium difficile, Cytomegalovirus , Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia, Herpes simplex, Hiv, Human papillomavirus, Lymphogranuloma venereum, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Rectal infection, Salmonella, Shigella , Syphillis, Trichomoniasis , Yersinia |
| Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic | No underlying causes |
| Neurologic | No underlying causes |
| Nutritional/Metabolic | No underlying causes |
| Obstetric/Gynecologic | No underlying causes |
| Oncologic | No underlying causes |
| Ophthalmologic | No underlying causes |
| Overdose/Toxicity | No underlying causes |
| Psychiatric | No underlying causes |
| Pulmonary | No underlying causes |
| Renal/Electrolyte | No underlying causes |
| Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy | Allergies, Behcet’s disease, Gluten intolerance, Immunodeficiency disorders |
| Sexual | Herpes simplex, Hiv, Human papillomavirus, Lymphogranuloma venereum, Syphillis |
| Trauma | Anorectal trauma, Foreign object, Physical agents, Rectal injury |
| Urologic | Non-specific urethritis |
| Miscellaneous | Idiopathic |
Causes in Alphabetical Order
- Adverse reaction to enema
- Allergies
- Amebiasis
- Anal infection
- Anal warts
- Anorectal trauma
- Bacillary dysentery
- Bacterial infection
- Behcet’s disease
- Campylobacter species
- Certain medications
- Chemicals
- Chlamydia trachomatis
- Chronic mucosal ischemia
- Clostridium difficile
- Crohn’s disease
- Cytomegalovirus
- Entamoeba histolytica
- Foreign object
- Giardia
- Ginkgo biloba reaction
- Gluten intolerance
- Herpes simplex
- Herpes virus 2
- Hiv
- Human papillomavirus
- Idiopathic
- Immunodeficiency disorders
- Ischemia
- Lymphogranuloma venereum
- Neisseria gonorrhoea
- Non-specific urethritis
- Obliterative endarteritis
- Papillomavirus
- Physical agents
- Radiation therapy
- Rectal infection
- Rectal injury
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Syphillis
- Toxins
- Treponema pallidum
- Trichomoniasis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Vasculitis
- Yersinia
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2] Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.
Differentiating Proctitis from other Diseases
Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Overview
Differentiating Proctitis from other Diseases
- Diseases with similar symptoms
- Acute or Chronic bacterial prostatitis
- Pinworm
- Ulcerative colitis
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Epidemiology and Demographics
Please help WikiDoc by adding content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.
References
Risk Factors
Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Overview
Risk Factors
Risk factors include:
- Autoimmune disorders
- High-risk sexual practices such as anal sex
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Overview
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Complications
- Possible Complications
- Anal fistula
- Anemia
- Recto-vaginal fistula (women)
- Severe bleeding
Prognosis
The probable outcome is good with treatment.
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Abdominal X Ray | CT | Endoscopy | Ultrasound | Other Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Treatment
Medical Therapy | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies
Related Chapters
Related Chapters
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]