What is Proctocolitis?

Proctocolitis is an inflammation involving the rectum and colon and is associated with a number of root causes. Some patients develop this condition as a result of sexually transmitted infections, while others may experience it in conjunction with inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and related conditions. Management of proctocolitis can include medications to kill infectious organisms along with drugs to reduce inflammation. In severe chronic forms, surgery sometimes needs to be explored as a treatment option.

In cases associated with sexually transmitted infections, common causes are Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, although other organisms can be involved as well. The patient can experience pain and discomfort, particularly while defecating, and may develop bloody stool, as well as a foul smelling discharge from the rectum. Antibiotic or antiviral drugs can be used to kill the organism, and the inflammation should resolve once the infection is no longer active.

Patients with inflammatory conditions involving the bowel can develop proctocolitis as a result of their conditions. The colon and rectum may develop ulcerations and patches of inflamed mucus membranes. Usually, the stool is loose and bloody and the patient may experience a frequent urge to defecate. Bowel protectant medication can be administered to soothe the irritated section of bowel, and patients may also take anti-inflammatory drugs or consider dietary modifications to reduce stress on the bowel and firm up the stool.

In chronic forms, patients experience proctocolitis recurrently over an extended period of time and it resists treatment. This can lead to tissue changes in the bowel wall as the patient's inflammation causes chronic sloughage and regrowth of cells. A doctor may recommend surgery to remove the involved portion of bowel out of concerns about cancers and other health problems. Surgical options can be invasive, and the patient may need to wear a colostomy bag for a period of time after the surgery while the bowel recovers.

People who notice bloody, loose, mucusy stool should seek medical attention. Proctocolitis is one possible cause. Stool samples will usually be collected to get information about what is happening inside the bowel, and the patient may also be asked for blood samples to check for signs of an underlying inflammatory process. Treatment options are variable and tend to be most effective when administered early. Chronic, untreated bowel conditions can potentially become very serious and treatment options may be severely limited in cases where sections of the bowel have become very degraded.