Diagnosis of Rectitis: Experts from Zhengzhou Huashan Anal and Intestinal Department explain that in acute rectitis, there is swelling and fever around the anus, with the anal skin being moist and red. A digital examination reveals severe pain in the rectum, with sphincter spasm causing tension at the anal opening. During a proctoscope examination, one can see the mucosa being congested, edematous, bleeding, and ulcerated, with a yellow purulent coating or punctate ulcers on the surface. Stool culture or biopsy can identify the causative bacteria for definitive etiological diagnosis. The characteristic findings of acute rectitis under the scope are deep red, swollen rectal mucosa with longitudinal folds, and secretions between the folds.
Experts from Zhengzhou Huashan Anal and Intestinal Department further explain that in chronic rectitis, a digital examination may reveal reduced elasticity of the rectal mucosa, which feels rough with granular protrusions or scars. A proctoscope examination shows mucosal edema, thickening, a yellowish-white color, covered by mucus. After wiping away the mucus, the mucosal surface appears uneven with localized erosion. Bacterial culture and biopsy can confirm the etiological diagnosis. The characteristic endoscopic features of chronic rectitis include swollen, thickened mucosa with a rough granular surface and a small amount of mucus. In cases of atrophic rectitis, the mucosa appears dry, grayish-white, with visible vascular networks beneath.
Clinically, based on its causes and symptoms, rectitis can be classified into: acute catarrhal rectitis, chronic ulcerative rectitis, radiation-induced rectitis, chronic hypertrophic rectitis, and chronic atrophic rectitis. According to experts from Zhengzhou Huashan Anal and Intestinal Department, out of these five types of rectitis, only the first one is acute, while the remaining four are chronic.
1. Mucoid stools with pus and blood are indicative of acute catarrhal and ulcerative rectitis.
2. Stools with mucus and blood streaks suggest hypertrophic and atrophic rectitis.
3. Alternating diarrhea and constipation are characteristics of hypertrophic and atrophic rectitis.
4. Rectal bleeding is a symptom of radiation-induced rectitis.
5. Tenesmus is associated with catarrhal and ulcerative rectitis.
Other symptoms are common among all types. Based on the above features, one can determine the specific type of colitis.
In chronic rectitis, a digital examination reveals reduced elasticity of the rectal mucosa, which feels rough with granular protrusions or scars. Proctoscope examination shows mucosal edema, thickening, a yellowish-white color, covered by mucus. After wiping away the mucus, the mucosal surface appears uneven with localized erosion. Bacterial culture and biopsy can confirm the etiological diagnosis. The characteristic endoscopic features of chronic rectitis include swollen, thickened mucosa with a rough granular surface and a small amount of mucus. In atrophic rectitis, the mucosa appears dry, grayish-white, with visible vascular networks beneath.
Experts from Zhengzhou Huashan Anal and Intestinal Department explain that patients with rectitis generally exhibit some common symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, mucoid or bloody stools. A unique symptom of rectitis is anal pain. Rectitis differs from other types of colitis due to its various forms and complex etiology.