Treatment for Proctitis Depends On the Underlying Condition
If you have rectal bleeding accompanied by anal pain and passing mucus in your rectum, you may have Proctitis. Proctitis can also cause a feeling of rectal fullness, a frequent or continuous urge to have a bowel movement, diarrhea, and pain during bowel movements. Basically, Proctitis refers to the inflammation of the lining of the rectum.
The types and causes of Proctitis
The treatment plan for Proctitis depends on the kind of Proctitis that the patient has. Therefore, it is a must to understand the cause of the condition before taking medications.
Basically, there are three types of Proctitis based on the underlying cause of the condition- radiation Proctitis, Proctitis caused by inflammatory bowel disease, and the most common- infectious Proctitis.
Radiation Proctitis is often caused by radiation treatments that are directed to the rectum or the pelvic area. Such may be used for cervical cancer, rectal cancer, prostate cancer, or uterine cancer. Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may also cause Proctitis.
Last, but the most common of which is infectious Proctitis. This type of Proctitis is usually caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Among the most STDs that can lead to Proctitis are gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, genital warts and Chlamydia. Infectious Proctitis is often contracted through anal intercourse.
Treatments and medication for Infectious Proctitis
Proctitis caused by infections can be cured by treating the underlying cause of the infection. However, anti-inflammatory medications are usually prescribed by the doctor in order to temporarily alleviate the symptoms of Proctitis.
Among the most common forms of anti-inflammatory medications for Proctitis are sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) or mesalamine (Asacol, Rowasa, others). These medications are usually in the form of pills, suppositories, or enema. In some cases, corticosteroids and steroids may also lessen the inflammation.
Usually, if the inflammation of the rectum lining is caused by a bacterial sexually transmitted disease, the physician may recommend oral medication in the form of antibiotics.
Note that the type and dosage of antibiotics will depend on the kind of STD. Antiseptic creams may also be advised. In some cases, other types of medications that eliminate harmful intestinal bacteria may be used. These include Metronidazole (Flagyl) and vancomycin (Vancocin).
If the infectious Proctitis is caused by a viral infection, an equivalent anti-viral medication such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) or valacyclovir (Valtrex) may be recommended by the physician. These types of medications may help heal the inflammation, as well as the sores caused by viral infection. They may also immediately alleviate the signs and symptoms caused by Proctitis. GP