Sexually Transmitted Infectious Proctitis

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The New England Journal of Medicine

Patient with unprotected receptive anal intercourse reported with rectal pain, bleeding and tenesmus

A 25-year-old man presented to the gastroenterology clinic with complaints of change in bowel habits, abdominal pain and fatigue. The symptoms began 7 months ago in association with rectal pain, bleeding and tenesmus. Additionally, a week before presentation, he had diarrhoea and constipation. The patient also noted that he had lost 14 kgs of weight during this tenure. He did not report of any night sweats or fevers.

On examination the rectum was notable for anal fissure. Similarly, the patient revealed that he had had unprotected receptive anal intercourse in the past. Colonoscopy showed severe ulcerative proctitis which ruled out the possibility of inflammatory bowel disease. The specimens were biopsied to confirm the diagnosis. Findings of the pathological analysis were consistent with active proctitis with lymphocytic inflammation.

Immunohistochemical staining was positive for Treponema pallidum. A polymerase-chain-reaction assay of a sample obtained from a rectal swab was positive for Chlamydia trachomatis L serovars and negative for gonorrhea. Similarly, rapid plasma reagin testing was positive at a titer of 1:32. Human immunodeficiency virus testing was negative.

The patient was diagnosed with infectious proctitis with syphilis associated with lymphogranuloma venereum.

The symptoms of endoscopic appearance of infectious proctitis, in some cases, are quite similar to inflammatory bowel disease. The patient was prescribed benzylpenicillin, azithromycin, and a 21-day course of doxycycline. The symptoms completely resolved after the course of medications was completed.

References

Siddiqui, W. T., & Schwartz, H. M. (2020). Infectious Proctitis. The New England Journal of Medicine382(17), 1638-1638.

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Dr. Aiman Shahab is a dentist with a bachelor’s degree from Dow University of Health Sciences. She is an experienced freelance writer with a demonstrated history of working in the health industry. Skilled in general dentistry, she is currently working as an associate dentist at a private dental clinic in Karachi, freelance content writer and as a part time science instructor with Little Medical School. She has also been an ambassador for PDC in the past from the year 2016 – 2018, and her responsibilities included acting as a representative and volunteer for PDC with an intention to make the dental community of Pakistan more connected and to work for benefiting the underprivileged. When she’s not working, you’ll either find her reading or aimlessly walking around for the sake of exploring. Her future plans include getting a master’s degree in maxillofacial and oral surgery, settled in a metropolitan city of North America.

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