Rectal disease in women and men is one of the most common and very sensitive topics that are relevant today. Perhaps this is because many are embarrassed to seek help from a specialist.
The worst disease that can affect the rectum is cancer. Like other types of tumors, it is characterized by an asymptomatic course. Therefore, it is imperative to pay attention to any changes in the rectum.
Rectum: diseases, symptoms, treatment
The rectum is a pelvic organ that is part of the digestive system and is designed to remove processed foods (feces) from the body.
The rectum begins at the level of the third sacral spine and ends with the anus. Its average length is 15–17 cm.
The organ consists of mucous, submucosal and muscular layers. Due to this structure, the mucosa can move– to fold or straighten out depending on the overcrowding of the rectum.
The main function of the body is bowel movement. Due to its purpose, the rectum is highly susceptible to various injuries and diseases.
Among the common diseases are fissures, polyps, proctitis, hemorrhoids, ulcers, cancer. The same symptoms of rectal disease can indicate different ailments. In case of any ailments, you should immediately consult a doctor. A proctologist deals with problems of the rectum.
Polyps in the rectum: symptoms
Polyps are benign formations on the epithelium of the rectum. There are fibrous and adenomatous, villous and multiple polyps of a mixed type.
- Fibrous polyps are formed from connective tissue.
- Adenomatous - from the tissues of the glands (this type of polyp is the most dangerous, as it can degenerate into cancer).
- Villous polyps are growths of the epithelium that have many papillae-villi.
- Mixed type of polyps - combinations of previous types.
The main causes of the disease are untreated inflammation in the rectum (colitis, hemorrhoids, enteritis).
When polyps appear in the rectum, symptoms may include the following:
- Blood on bowel movements.
- Stools are painful, sometimes accompanied by bleeding.
- Infection may cause fever and chills.
- Constipation (if polyps are large).
- Sensation of a foreign body inanus.
It should be borne in mind that very often it is difficult for a patient to detect the formation of polyps or simply inflammation of the rectum - symptoms as such may be absent.
Polyps are treated surgically. Other methods are simply ineffective and provide temporary relief.
Single polyps are removed by electrocoagulation (cauterization). For the treatment of large polyps, transanal excision is used. Therapy of polyps that have begun malignant degeneration is carried out by removing the affected area of the rectum.
Paraproctitis: symptoms and treatment
Symptoms of diseases of the rectum can be very different, or may be completely absent. For example, the main symptom indicating paraproctitis (purulent inflammation of the rectum) is the discharge of pus in the anus.
The cause of the disease is the formation of micro-holes (fistulas) in the places of anal crypts, due to frequent constipation, diarrhea, weight lifting, hypothermia. Such suppuration is either opened outward on its own, or with the help of doctors. In its place, a fistula appears (chronic paraproctitis).
Signs of the disease - malaise, weakness, headache, a slight increase in temperature, chills, aching joints. Decreased appetite. Urination and stool may be disturbed.
There are several forms of paraproctitis:
- Subcutaneous. Symptoms - redness, swelling, indurationin the anus, which is accompanied by soreness and discomfort.
- Pelvic-rectal. Symptoms - general weakness and intoxication, similar to a respiratory infection. There may also be painful urination and stools.
- Ishiorectal. Symptoms - the formation of purulent inflammation in the ileo-rectal fossa, asymmetry of the buttocks, redness of the skin.
- Submucosal. This is the occurrence of purulent foci on the mucous membrane. Symptoms resemble those of subcutaneous paraproctitis.
- Pelviorectal. The most severe form. Symptoms are chills, fever, pelvic and abdominal pain.
- Necrotic. Accompanied by tissue death - necrosis.
The most favorable method of treatment is surgery. During the operation, not only the abscess is removed, but also the internal micro-hole. After such an operation, there is no recurrence of the disease.
Hemorrhoids: causes and symptoms
Hemorrhoids are a venous expansion in the rectum, which is chronic with periodic exacerbations.
Such diseases of the rectum have rather unpleasant symptoms - itching, burning, pain during stool, bleeding, prolapse of part of the intestine.
The main cause of the disease is a sedentary lifestyle, frequent constipation, pregnancy, weight lifting, severe hypothermia.
If the disease is ignored and not treated, it can be the beginning of the formation of polyps, blood clots, cancer. Therefore, do not postpone a visit to a specialist. Effective are folk methods of treatment - candles, ointments containing rawpotatoes, beets, carrots, garlic, propolis and honey. Decoctions of herbs (yarrow, mountain ash), horse chestnut infusions have proven themselves well.
Don't ignore the symptoms of an inflamed rectum. Diseases, the photos of which you will not see in an ordinary hospital, are not only "inconvenient", but sometimes life-threatening.
Hemorrhoidal thrombosis
This is a complication of hemorrhoids that occurs as a result of the neglect of the disease. Timely diagnosis and treatment of hemorrhoids in the early stages helps to prevent its further development and recurrence.
However, when the disease is ignored, blood clots appear, which have varying degrees of severity:
I - the formation of clots that disrupt blood circulation in the nodes. The main symptom is the appearance of small bumps near the anus.
II - inflammatory processes begin. The pain becomes stronger, the temperature rises, the swelling of the skin of the anus increases.
III - spread of inflammation to the inguinal region with possible tissue necrosis.
The main symptoms of rectal disease to respond to:
- Pain in the anus, perineum.
- Bloody stools.
- Defecation disorders (diarrhea, constipation).
- False calls to the toilet.
- Incontinence of gases and feces.
Of course, diseases of the rectum are a delicate problem, but it needs to be addressed. You can't let everything go by itself. Otherwise, he alth complications cannot be avoided,in particular formations of malignant tumors.
Rectal prolapse
Prolapse of the rectum is the eversion outward of all layers of the distal colon. It occurs equally often in children, men and women. In the first case, this is explained by the anatomical features of the child's body, in the second - by hard work, in the third - by bearing and giving birth to a child. Many diseases of the rectum in women are associated with childbearing.
Sometimes the causes of the disease can be injuries to the buttocks, falls, bruises of the sacrum or spinal cord.
There are three degrees of the disease:
- The bowel falls out during a bowel movement, and then returns to its place on its own.
- Intestine protrudes during defecation and exercise. You can return it back only by repositioning.
- Prolapse occurs during coughing, laughing and may be accompanied by incontinence of feces, urine.
Symptoms of rectal disease in such cases may begin suddenly or appear "increasingly". This may result in the release of mucus or blood, abdominal pain, constipation.
Treatment of prolax (intestinal prolapse) is most effective if performed surgically. Drug therapy is used as an additional method.
Rectal cancer: risk group
In most cases, the disease does not occur out of the blue. It is always preceded by inflammatory processes in the organ, which for a long time were ignored and not treated. These are all kinds of fistulas, fissures, polyps, hemorrhoids.
The tumor is most often found in those over fifty. People at risk:
- Hereditary.
- Suffering from dysbacteriosis.
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle.
- Those with diabetes or those suffering from obesity.
- Abuse of carcinogenic substances (nicotine, alcohol).
- Who has precancerous conditions.
Probably, there is nothing worse and more unpleasant than the condition when the rectum becomes inflamed. Diseases may have the same symptoms, but the treatment will be different.
It should be remembered that rectal cancer “sits” asymptomatically for a long time and is detected only at the stage of metastasis. Therefore, people at risk need to pay special attention to this organ.
Diagnosis of diseases of the rectum
To diagnose diseases in proctology, a large arsenal of various methods is used:
- The most accurate and reliable is rectoscopy. It is the introduction of a special device of the rectoscope (tube with lighting) into the rectum to a depth of about thirty centimeters. This helps to identify various inflammatory processes in the patient (ulcers, polyps, tumors). The procedure will cause some discomfort, but it is almost painless. The use of a proctoscope also allows the treatment of diseases of the rectum (electrocoagulation).
- Colonoscopy - examination of the rectum with a probe. It is used for tumor formations. Contraindications - acutepain, infectious diseases, heart and lung failure.
- Biopsy - taking tissues or cells of the rectum for further diagnosis under a microscope.
- Endorectal ultrasound (insertion of a special probe).
- Blood, urine, stool tests.
Due to a variety of methods for examining the rectum, it is possible to most accurately diagnose any inflammation, diseases of this organ and choose the most correct treatment regimen.
Methods of treatment of proctological diseases
Depending on the complexity of the disease, the following methods are used for treatment:
- Medications. Effective only in the initial stages of the disease. With the help of medicines, you can relieve pain, inflammation (suppositories, ointments).
- Surgery. The main method that is successful in almost 100% of cases. It is used at any stage in combination with drugs.
- Cryosurgery. Treatment of neoplasms with low temperatures. The method is strong in various fields of medicine.
- Laser therapy. Exposure to disease by electromagnetic radiation.
- Hypothermia. Temperature therapy. A device with temperature limitation is used - from -5 to +35 degrees. Hypothermia is more often used after operations, with proctitis, fissures.
Treatment with diet
For various ailments of the rectum, different diets are also prescribed. So, for example, in the presence of constipation and cracks, it is recommended to adhere to diet number 3. Namely, to include thermal and mechanical stimuli in the diet to stimulate the rectum. This is vegetable coarse fiber - meat,bread, eggs (hard boiled, omelettes), fish and dairy products, cereals and pasta, fats, vegetables.
Diet for diseases of the rectum is adjusted depending on the stage and complexity of the disease. In any case, it is necessary to exclude alcohol and carbonated drinks, spices, spicy dishes, as well as other foods that cause flatulence. Nutrition should be as balanced and fractional as possible. Do not forget about vitamins (fruits, vegetables in raw form and in the form of juices).
After the operation in the anus, you need to fast for one or two days to avoid defecation and, accordingly, irritation of the anus.
Folk treatments
Traditional medicine for diseases of the rectum can be quite effective if you know how to apply it correctly. It is used as an additional method of treatment. People know thousands of recipes to relieve not only pain, but also other symptoms.
All recipes can be divided into two types:
- For oral administration. Decoctions of yarrow, spotted arum, elderberry, mustard, tartar, nettle, chamomile.
- For topical application - suppositories, ointments, baths, microclysters. Use for this celandine, sea buckthorn oil, camphor oil, calendula.
In any case, before using traditional medicine, you need to consult a proctologist, otherwise the treatment may not alleviate the course of the disease, but, on the contrary, do harm.
Conclusion
Rectal diseases are a problemdelicate, but in urgent need of resolution. Prolonged neglect of symptoms leads to chronic inflammation that is difficult to treat. The worst consequence of chronic rectal ailments is cancer, which can manifest itself only in the third or fourth stage, when there is no way out anymore…
