QUESTION: I've heard of colitis of the large intestine, but can the disease also occur only in the rectum?
ANSWER: Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the inner lining of the large intestine, or colon.
Ulcerative proctitis and proctosigmoiditis, on the other hand, are similar inflammations of the rectum and of the final curve of the colon leading to the rectum, and occur more frequently than colitis. The symptoms of these two diseases include rectal bleeding and mucus in the stool. Medical experts disagree on the nature of ulcerative proctitis and proctosigmoiditis.
Some say the two are a mild, limited form of colitis. Others argue that they are a completely separate disease.
However, it has been shown that if the disease hasn't spread to the rest of the colon after six months, then it probably never will.
Furthermore, the prognosis for proctitis and proctosigmoiditis is better than the outlook for colitis. Patients with the more limited disease rarely need to be hospitalized or treated with system-wide corticosteroids.
Therefore, it is most important to distinguish between the diseases. In any case, ulcerative proctitis is generally a fairly mild disease. Since most of the colon is not affected, normal stools are usually formed.
In fact, a patient with the disease may even be constipated.
Treatment involves medication for the inflammation and hydrocortisone or corticosteroid foam enemas.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
