Proctitis Health Dictionary

The loss of mucus, pus, or blood from the anus. Haemorrhoids, anal fissures, and proctitis (inflammation of the rectum) can all cause anal discharge.... anal discharge

One of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Gonorrhoea, caused by the bacterium NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE, is most often transmitted during sexual activity, including oral and anal sex. An infected woman may also transmit the disease to her baby during childbirth.Gonorrhoea has an incubation period of 2–10 days. In men, symptoms include a discharge from the urethra and pain on passing urine. Many infected women have no symptoms; if symptoms are present, they usually consist of vaginal discharge or a burning sensation on passing urine. Infection acquired by anal sex can cause gonococcal proctitis. Oral sex with an infected person may lead to gonococcal pharyngitis. A baby exposed to infection during its birth may acquire the eye infection gonococcal ophthalmia.

Untreated gonorrhoea may spread to other parts of the body. In men, it may cause prostatitis or epididymo-orchitis, affecting fertility. In women, untreated gonorrhoea results in pelvic inflammatory disease, causing damage to the fallopian tubes. This increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy and may lead to infertility. Gonococcal bacteria in the bloodstream may result in septicaemia or septic arthritis.

Tests are performed on a sample of discharge or on swabs taken from the urethra, cervix, or rectum in order to confirm the diagnosis. Gonorrhoea is treated with antibiotic drugs.... gonorrhoea

The passage of blood from the rectum or anus. The blood may be red, dark brown, or black. It may be mixed with, or on the surface of, faeces or passed separately, and there may be pain. Haemorrhoids are the most common cause of rectal bleeding. Small amounts of bright red blood appear on the surface of faeces or on toilet paper. Anal fissure, anal fistula, proctitis, or rectal prolapse may also cause rectal bleeding.Cancer of the colon (see colon, cancer of) or the rectum (see rectum, cancer of), or polyps can also cause bleeding. Disorders of the colon such as diverticular disease may cause dark red faeces. Black faeces (melaena) may be due to bleeding high in the digestive tract. Bloody diarrhoea may be due to ulcerative colitis, amoebiasis, or shigellosis. Diagnosis may be made from a rectal examination, from proctoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or a double-contrast barium X-ray examination.

rectal examination Examination of the anus and rectum, performed as part of a general physical examination, to assess symptoms of pain or changes in bowel habits, and to check for the presence of tumours of the rectum or prostate gland. rectal prolapse Protrusion outsid.

nent in elderly people. If the prolapse is large, leakage of faeces may occur.

Treatment is with a fibre-rich diet.

Surgery may also be performed.... rectal bleeding

A solid medical preparation, of cone or bullet shape, designed to be placed in the rectum to dissolve.

Suppositories are used to treat rectal disorders such as haemorrhoids or proctitis.

They may also be used to soften faeces and stimulate defaecation.

In addition, suppositories may be used to administer drugs into the general circulation, via blood vessels in the rectum, if vomiting is likely to prevent absorption after oral administration or if the drug would cause irritation of the stomach.... suppository

n. inflammation of the rectum and colon, usually due to *ulcerative colitis. See also proctitis.... proctocolitis

n. a sensation of the desire to defecate or urinate, associated with straining and the passage of minimal volumes of faeces or urine or none at all. Rectal tenesmus may be due to *proctitis, prolapse of the rectum, rectal tumour, or *irritable bowel syndrome.... tenesmus

inflammation and ulceration of the colon, initially starting in the rectum (see proctitis) but ascending to include a part or the whole of the colon (see colitis). Its cause is unknown. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and rectal bleeding. Acute severe colitis requires urgent in-patient admission for intravenous steroids. Patients who fail to respond to these should be treated with second-line agents (such as infliximab or ciclosporin) or by surgical colectomy.... ulcerative colitis