Proctitis is a painful inflammation of the rectum. It can cause discomfort, bleeding, and sometimes, a discharge of pus or mucus. A number of conditions can cause proctitis, but while you are suffering from inflammation of the rectum, it is important to take care of yourself by taking all medications prescribed or recommended by your physician and eating a bland diet.
Causes
You can develop proctitis due to an autoimmune disease, non-sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases and exposure to harmful substances. The most common cause of proctitis is because of STDs. Several STDs can cause proctitis such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, amebiasis and lymphogranuloma venereum. Non-sexually transmitted infections, such as the one caused by the bacteria that leads to strep throat, can cause proctitis. Autoimmune diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can lead to proctitis. Certain medications such as those used in radiotherapy can cause proctitis. Inserting harmful substances into the rectum can also cause proctitis; anal sex is one of the risk factors for developing proctitis.
Symptoms
Symptoms of proctitis include bloody stools, rectal bleeding, rectal discharge and pain or discomfort of the rectum. You can experience constipation and pain during bowel movements. Due to the pain, bloody stool and rectal bleeding, it is best to avoid spicy foods as this could increase the amount of pain and burning.
Nutrition
Your diet plays a large role in the recovery of proctitis. Aside from avoiding spicy foods, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America also recommends avoiding raw vegetables and high-fiber foods while suffering from proctitis. Bland, soft foods are best when suffering from rectal bleeding, pain and discomfort. It is also important to drink plenty of liquids as diarrhea may rob your body of water. Fruits, cooked vegetables and lean meats such as fish and poultry should be included in your diet.
Treatment
Your physician may prescribe antibiotics to treat proctitis if it's caused by an infection. If you suffer from proctitis due to ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, your physician may prescribe mesalamine suppositories or corticosteroids to relieve symptoms of proctitis. Depending upon your medical situation, your doctor may recommend oral medication in addition to suppositories for severe cases.
