Diagnostic tests used to identify the proctosigmoiditis in a patient are also necessary to determine its course and choose the most appropriate treatment method, which, if not fully recovered, will significantly alleviate its condition and prolonged periods of remission.
In the case when the intestinal mucosa becomes inflamed with partial or complete atrophy, manifested in thinning and termination of functional activity, the patient is diagnosed with a subatrophic or atrophic species of proctosigmoiditis.
In these forms of the disease, as a rule, the final department of the digestive tract, direct and sigmoid colon is affected. The inflammatory process spreads both along the bowel, starting with the sigmoid region, and in the opposite direction. Subatrophic proctosigmoiditis precedes its atrophic form. With this development, the symptoms of pathology have already manifested, but the mucosa has not been affected so far. This disease is much more common, since the sigmoid colon is the final form of fecal masses, and with the physiological stagnation the inflammatory process develops.
With atrophic proctosigmoid, in addition to thinning of the mucosa, a disruption of its functional activity develops due to damage to the nerve endings in it. The main physiological symptom of the disease, in addition to the common for all types of proctosigmoiditis will be a complete loss of appetite and the output of stools containing a large number of inclusions of undigested food. This is due to the fact that the mucous membrane, which has undergone atrophy, is not able to perform its functions.
This pathology may also be a consequence of Crohn's disease or a certain bacterium, such as salmonella. Prolonged intake of antibiotics that destroy normal intestinal bacteria also contributes to the development of atrophy in the intestinal mucosa and the appearance of such a form of proctosigmoiditis. Symptoms can proceed as painlessly, with secretions of mucus and blood from the rectum, and be accompanied by severe pain during the act of defecation.
Treatment for this form of pathology is selected only by a specialist taking into account all the individual characteristics of the patient. In addition to mandatory medication, it will include dietary nutrition appropriate to the disease and the necessary physiotherapy procedures. Patients are also recommended to have an annual spa treatment.