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February 9, 2012
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Proctitis

Medical Author:
Hardik C Soni, MD
Coauthor:
Eugene Hardin, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Coauthor:
Craig Wilder, MD
Medical Editor:
Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
James Quinn, MD

Proctitis Overview

Proctitis is defined as inflammation of your anus (the opening) and lining of your rectum (lower part of the intestine leading to the anus). Symptoms can vary greatly. You may at first have only minor problems. Proctitis affects the last 6 inches of the rectum and can cause the following:

  • Pain during a bowel movement
  • Soreness in your anal and rectal area
  • Feeling that you didn't completely empty your bowels after a bowel movement
  • Involuntary spasms and cramping during bowel movements
  • Bleeding, and possibly a discharge

Proctitis can last a short time or become a chronic condition (last for weeks or months or longer).

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Proctitis

Ulcerative Colitis »

Ulcerative Colitis Overview

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the colon (the large intestine or bowel). Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and sores (ulcers), in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the lower section, called the ileum.

The inflammation makes the colon empty frequently, causing diarrhea. Ulcers form in places where the inflammation has killed the cells linking the colon. The ulcers bleed and produce pus and mucus.

Symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, the recurrent urge to have a bowel movement (tenesmus), lack of appetite, fever, and fatigue.

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody bowel movements are the hallmark of the disease.

Ulcerative colitis is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the other is Crohn'...

Read the Ulcerative Colitis article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Proctitis »

Proctitis is inflammation of the lining of the rectum, called the rectal mucosa.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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