Blood in the stool occurs in almost everyone with the disease. Diarrhea is a common symptom, although constipation can also develop as the body struggles to maintain normal bowel function.
Inflammation of the rectum may cause a sense of urgency to have a bowel movement, discomfort after having a bowel movement, and a sensation of incomplete emptying of the bowels. Systemic symptoms such as fever, tiredness, nausea, and weight loss are rare. Ulcerative proctitis has very few complications but with increased irritation to the anal and rectal area, hemorrhoids may occur. Only rarely do other complications occur, such as abscesses and extra-intestinal manifestations.
Individuals with ulcerative proctitis are not at any greater risk for developing colorectal cancer than those without the disease. Typically, your physician makes a diagnosis of ulcerative proctitis after considering your medical history, doing a general examination, and performing a standard sigmoidoscopy.
A sigmoidoscope is an instrument with a tiny light and camera, inserted via the anus, which allows the physician to view the bowel lining. Small biopsies taken during the sigmoidoscopy may help rule out other possible causes of rectal inflammation. Stool cultures may also aid in the diagnosis. X-rays are not generally required, although at times they may be necessary to assess the small intestine or other parts of the colon.
The treatment of ulcerative proctitis is multi-faceted; it includes managing symptoms along with following therapies targeted to reduce the underlying inflammation.
Disease symptoms may cause food avoidance, leading to food choices that might not provide a balanced diet. There are different types of ulcerative colitis, including ulcerative proctitis, proctosigmoiditis, left-sided colitis, and pancolitis.
The types of ulcerative colitis are categorized by how much of the colon and rectum are inflamed. Ulcerative proctitis is inflammation in the rectum, while other forms of ulcerative colitis have inflammation in one or more sections of the large intestine. This article will discuss the similarities and differences in their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis can include diarrhea , blood in or on the stools, the urgent need to move your bowels, and abdominal cramps usually on the left side and sometimes improving after going to the bathroom.
In ulcerative proctitis, diarrhea is less common, and there may instead be constipation. The disease does tend to run in families, and people who have a family member who lives with IBD are more likely to develop the condition.
There is a genetic component, but not everyone who has the genes associated with the disease goes on to develop it. There tends to be one or more triggers. However, there appears to be a connection to the microbiome in the gut. The gut contains a diverse number of bacteria, called the microbiome, and people with an IBD tend to have a disruption in their gut microbiome.
This is called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is thought to lead to damage to the inner layer of the large intestine. Some of the theories being studied include certain types of food additives, some types of medications such as antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like Advil, an ibuprofen, or Aleve, a naproxen , and infections.
The various forms of ulcerative colitis are diagnosed after a number of conditions have been met. The first step that a physician will take is getting your history.
Beyond symptoms are the signs of ulcerative colitis that may be occurring outside of the colon, including mouth ulcers and joint pain. Your doctor will ensure that there is not an infection causing, or contributing to, the symptoms.
Visually seeing the tissues and getting the results of a biopsy a tissue sample removed for further examination in a lab can help your doctor determine if you have ulcerative colitis and how much of the colon is affected.
If only the rectum is affected, a diagnosis of ulcerative proctitis may be made. If more of the intestine is inflamed, another form of ulcerative colitis may be diagnosed. Tests that might be done include:. The treatment used for ulcerative colitis will depend on several factors. One of these is the extensiveness of the disease. The treatments for ulcerative proctitis might be different from those for other diseases affecting more of the colon. Medications for ulcerative proctitis might be given topically applied directly to the area being treated.
That may have a more profound effect. There is no evidence to show that stress, anxiety, or tension is responsible for ulcerative colitis.
However, they may contribute to an exacerbation of the disease. The emotional distress that patients sometimes feel may be a reaction to the symptoms of the disease itself. Although formal psychotherapy is generally not necessary, some patients are helped considerably by speaking with a therapist who is knowledgeable about IBD or about chronic illness in general.
Call us at Or click to send an appointment request online. Request Online. Jennifer Bonheur is a board-certified gastroenterologist who loves her work and values her relationships with her patients. As a female gastroenterologist, she strives to connect and treat the patient and not simply the illness.
Bonheur offers specialized care in gastroenterology and therapeutic endoscopy. Together with her staff, she is committed to providing the highest quality medical care in a comfortable, professional and personalized environment. Learn More ». Ulcerative Colitis and Proctitis. What Is Ulcerative Colitis? How is Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosed? They are: Aminosalicylates 5-ASA : These medications typically are used to treat mild to moderate symptoms. Proctitis is common in people who have inflammatory bowel disease Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Sexually transmitted infections are another frequent cause. Proctitis also can be a side effect of radiation therapy for certain cancers. Proctitis that isn't treated or that doesn't respond to treatment may lead to complications, including:.
To reduce your risk of proctitis, take steps to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections STIs. The surest way to prevent an STI is to abstain from sex, especially anal sex. If you choose to have sex, reduce your risk of an STI by:. If you're diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection, stop having sex until after you've completed treatment. Ask your doctor when it's safe to have sex again. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
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