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Proctitis is inflammation of the lining of the rectum, called the
rectal mucosa. Proctitis can be short term (acute) or long term (chronic).
Proctitis has many causes. It may be a side effect of medical treatments
like radiation therapy or antibiotics. Diseases like ulcerative colitis,
Crohn's disease, and sexually transmitted diseases may also cause
proctitis. Other causes include rectal injury, bacterial infection,
allergies, and malfunction of the nerves in the rectum.
The most common symptom is a frequent or continuous sensation or urge
to have a bowel movement. Other symptoms include constipation, a feeling
of rectal fullness, left-sided abdominal pain, passage of mucus through
the rectum, rectal bleeding, and anorectal pain.
Physicians diagnose proctitis by looking inside the rectum with a
proctoscope or a sigmoidoscope. A biopsy (a tiny piece of tissue from the
rectum) may be removed and tested for diseases or infections.
Treatment depends on the cause of proctitis. For example, the physician
may prescribe antibiotics for proctitis caused by bacterial infection. If
the inflammation is caused by Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, the
physician may recommend the drug 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5ASA) or
corticosteroids applied directly to the area or taken in pill form.
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