Proctitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Simple Treatment Steps
Proctitis often feels like bad hemorrhoids but it’s different. It’s inflammation of the rectum lining and it can come from infections, inflammatory bowel disease, radiation, or even certain medications. Knowing the cause changes treatment, so don’t assume it’s just hemorrhoids.
Common symptoms are rectal pain, urgent need to stool, blood or mucus in stool, and a sense you haven’t finished after a bowel movement. You might also get diarrhea, discharge, or low fever. Symptoms can be mild or severe and may come on suddenly or slowly.
How doctors check for proctitis
Your doctor starts with questions and a quick exam. They may use an anoscope or flexible sigmoidoscopy to look at the rectal lining and take a small biopsy. Stool tests and swabs can find infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or C. difficile. If you had pelvic radiation recently, mention it—radiation proctitis needs a different plan.
Treatments that actually help
Treatment depends on the cause. For infectious proctitis, antibiotics or antiviral drugs clear the infection. For inflammatory causes like ulcerative colitis, topical mesalamine or steroid suppositories often calm inflammation fast. Chronic radiation proctitis may need sucralfate enemas, endoscopic treatments, or referral to a specialist.
Home care matters: sitz baths (warm water) ease pain, gentle wiping and barrier creams protect the skin, and fiber adjustments or stool softeners can reduce strain. Avoid using harsh wipes, scented products, or rubbing alcohol around the area. Over-the-counter pain relief helps, but check with your doctor before mixing medicines.
When to call your doctor: heavy bleeding, high fever, severe pain, or signs of dehydration need urgent care. If symptoms last more than a week or come back after treatment, see a specialist. Untreated proctitis can lead to complications like ulcers, strictures, or worsening bowel disease.
Practical prevention tips: practice safer sex, get tested for STIs if you’re at risk, follow radiation precautions and report symptoms early, and manage IBD closely with your gastroenterologist. If you take NSAIDs and notice rectal symptoms, discuss alternatives with your provider.
Real-world tip: when you see a doc, bring a simple timeline—when symptoms started, recent infections, sexual history, recent antibiotics or radiation, and a list of medicines. That one-minute prep often speeds up diagnosis and avoids repeat visits.
Expect to see some improvement within a few days for infections—most people feel better within 48–72 hours after starting antibiotics. If your doctor treats proctitis with topical mesalamine or steroid suppositories, expect gradual improvement over 1–2 weeks. Keep a simple diary of symptoms: stool frequency, bleeding, pain, and meds taken. Change your diet during flares—skip alcohol, spicy food, and limit caffeine; alcohol and hot spices irritate the rectum, and very high-fiber foods can make urgency worse during active inflammation. After symptoms settle, slowly reintroduce fiber to avoid constipation. If you still bleed heavily or have fever after treatment, return to your doctor.
Family24Rx.com helps you find reliable info and safe medication options, but proctitis needs a clinician’s diagnosis. Use the tips above to spot problems early and get the right treatment without delay.
