Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Inflammatory and Functional Disorders
Number of Conditions: 3
Proctitis
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: Rectum and Anus Disorders
Sub-category: Inflammatory and Functional Disorders
Symptoms:
rectal pain; bleeding during bowel movements; frequent urge to defecate; mucus in stools; diarrhea; tenesmus (feeling of incomplete evacuation)
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the rectal lining, often caused by infections, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), radiation therapy, or sexually transmitted infections.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Medical history, physical examination, rectal examination, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy with biopsy, stool tests, and infection screening.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or lifestyle modifications.
Medications:
Antibiotics like metronidazole or ciprofloxacin for infections, corticosteroid enemas for inflammation, aminosalicylates (e.g., mesalamine ) for IBD-related proctitis, or antiviral therapy if caused by herpes simplex virus.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease or those exposed to rectal infections or radiation therapy.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
History of IBD (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), radiation therapy to the pelvic area, unprotected anal intercourse, infections (e.g., STIs like gonorrhea or chlamydia).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper treatment, most cases resolve, but recurrence depends on the underlying cause (e.g., chronic in IBD).
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic rectal bleeding, abscess formation, fistulas, or progression to more severe IBD complications in related cases.
Anal Fissures
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: Rectum and Anus Disorders
Sub-category: Inflammatory and Functional Disorders
Symptoms:
sharp pain during bowel movements; bright red blood on stool or toilet paper; itching or irritation around the anus; spasms of the anal sphincter
Root Cause:
A tear in the lining of the anal canal, often caused by trauma from hard stools, chronic diarrhea, or inflammation.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Medical history, physical examination, and anoscopy if necessary.
Treatment:
Increasing dietary fiber and fluids, stool softeners, warm sitz baths, and topical medications. Severe cases may require surgical intervention.
Medications:
Topical nitroglycerin or calcium channel blockers (e.g., nifedipine or diltiazem ) to relax the sphincter, corticosteroid creams to reduce inflammation, or lidocaine for pain relief.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, particularly in infants, young adults, and middle-aged adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Constipation, chronic diarrhea, anal trauma, childbirth, and underlying inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most acute fissures heal within a few weeks with conservative measures; chronic fissures may require surgery for resolution.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain, recurrent fissures, and potential development of an anal fistula or abscess.
Rectal Prolapse
Specialty: Gastrointestinal
Category: Rectum and Anus Disorders
Sub-category: Inflammatory and Functional Disorders
Symptoms:
protrusion of rectal tissue through the anus; fecal incontinence; difficulty with bowel movements; rectal bleeding or mucus discharge; feeling of a mass in the anus
Root Cause:
Weakening of the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments that support the rectum, leading to its displacement outside the anus.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, defecography, colonoscopy, and pelvic MRI if needed to assess the pelvic floor.
Treatment:
Treatment options include lifestyle changes (e.g., dietary fiber to avoid straining), pelvic floor exercises, or surgical correction such as rectopexy.
Medications:
Stool softeners or laxatives to reduce straining during bowel movements; no direct medications to reverse prolapse.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, but more common in older adults, women, and those with chronic constipation or pelvic floor disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic constipation, straining during bowel movements, previous pelvic surgeries, advanced age, and conditions like cystic fibrosis or COPD.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment, though recurrence is possible in severe cases or without surgical intervention.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Ulceration of the prolapsed tissue, bowel obstruction, incontinence, or strangulation of the rectal tissue requiring emergency surgery.