Treatment of Paraproctitis

About the disease

Paraproctitis is a condition, whereby paraproctium becomes inflamed. Paraproctium is a tissue which surround the rectum. According to Brulant.com, there are two types of paraproctitis acute and chronic. In the first case, symptoms of paraproctitis develop suddenly and are very severe, acute pain in the rectum being the most common one. In the second case paraproctitis can develop gradually and some time may pass before first manifestations appear.

Inflammation of paraproctium can develop due to several reasons. Penetrating trauma of this tissue is the most common one. It can also develop as a result of an infection or general inflammation in the body, which spread to the rectum tissues. People with compromised immune system are more likely to develop paraproctitis. Other inflammatory processes of intestines and rectum can also spread to paraproctitis. In some cases long-term diarrhea or constipation can lead to development of inflammation of the tissues which surround rectum.

This condition is more common in people over the age of 20 and in people who are more prone to develop inflammation in the rectal area. In severe cases of paraproctitis it may be difficult for a person to sit. The area around anus may be red and inflamed as well. Overall, if not treated on time, the purulent process of tissues around rectum can begin and then an abscess may form. Pain in the rectal area may disappear if the abscess broke, but, still, there can be discharge. It is dangerous to treat this condition at home and not go to the doctor on time. The earlier the treatment started, the faster the recovery will be.   

Symptoms

• Pain in the rectal area
• Pain during defecation
• Constipation or, on the other hand, diarrhea
• Fever
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Paleness

Diagnosis

• During a general examination, the doctor will ask about the symptoms and will also palpate the rectal area to determine the exact location of pain. In men a doctor may palpate the prostate as well to rule out the possibility that it may be the source of pain.
• Imaging tests are used to examine the tissues surrounding the rectum and determine if they are purulent and inflamed. A doctor may also examine the intestines to determine if there are any problems which caused the inflammation in tissues surrounding the rectum.

Treatment

• Surgical sanitation is used to make an incision in the abscess and then drain it. This surgery is performed under general anesthesia. If any of the intestines had been damaged, the damaged intestine needs to be removed as well. After the surgery, it is important to wash the rectal area regularly in order to prevent recurrent inflammation. A person also needs to take antibiotics to prevent sepsis and inflammation in the body.

Authors: Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko