Proctitis: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

What is proctitis?

Proctitis is an inflammation of the rectal mucosa that can be caused by various causes such as infection, inflammatory bowel disease or radiotherapy. Symptoms include rectal discomfort and bleeding.

Causes of proctitis:

• Sexually transmitted infections (e.g. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia spp)Certain intestinal infections (e.g. Campylobacter, Shigella, Salmonella)
• Inflammatory bowel diseases
• Radiotherapy
• Clostridioides difficile infection after previous antibiotic intake

Symptoms and signs:

Typical symptoms of proctitis are tenesmus (the feeling of emptying the bowel even when there is no stool), rectal bleeding and mucus discharge. Severe anorectal pain may also occur with some infections.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is made by proctoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, which shows an inflamed rectal mucosa. Tests for sexually transmitted infections, C. difficile and other relevant pathogens can be carried out for further clarification. Sometimes a mucosal biopsy is required.

Treatment:

Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the proctitis:

• Infectious proctitis can be treated with antibiotics.
• Radiation proctitis is often treated with topical medications, such as corticosteroid foam or enemas.
• Endoscopic therapies such as argon plasma coagulation can also be effective.

Treatment should be individualized and performed under medical supervision to achieve the best possible results and avoid complications.

Summary:

Proctitis is an inflammation of the rectum that can have various causes. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important to relieve discomfort and avoid complications. It is advisable to consult a doctor if proctitis is suspected in order to receive the appropriate treatment.