Pain and discomfort that appears after a bowel movement, a sensation of a foreign body in the anus - these symptoms indicate the development of papillitis. For pathology, inflammation and subsequent hypertrophy of the anal papilla are typical. This is a serious reason for contacting a proctologist. Only a doctor can choose the best treatment.
Medical certificate
At the level of the anorectal line on the inner surface of the rectum, anal papillae can be located. They represent the formation of a triangular or round shape. Their presence is a normal physiological phenomenon. Anal papillae are found in people of different ages. In children, they are more pronounced, but as they grow older, their size decreases.
In the normal state, the formation has a pale pink color, reaches no more than 1 cm in diameter. However, in the event of exposure to a number of negative factors, the papillae become inflamed and hypertrophied. Their size increases 3-4 times, and the color becomes burgundy red. The progression of pathology is accompanied by pain, the formation of ulcers and erosion. In medicine, it is known as anal papillitis.
The main causes of inflammation
Inflammation that occurs against the background of hypertrophy of the anal papilla may begin due to infection of tissues by pathogenic microflora, which is present in the rectum. A kind of entry gate for infection is usually damage to soft tissues due to prolonged injury by feces. This phenomenon is typical of chronic constipation.
Among other causes of soft tissue damage to the papilla, doctors distinguish the following:
- diarrhea and irritation of the rectum with feces during intestinal infections, gastrointestinal diseases, food poisoning;
- frequent use of rectal suppositories;
- regular use of cleansing enemas;
- stagnation of feces in the intestine against the background of hemorrhoids, an inactive lifestyle;
- poor blood circulation in the pelvic organs;
- allergy to personal care products and underwear;
- introduction of foreign objects into the anal canal.
These factors lead to hypertrophy of the papillae, as a result of which they can fall out of the anus.
Clinical picture
Hypertrophic anal papillae exhibit specific symptoms. The most common are swelling and itching in the anus. Usually, discomfort appears every time after a bowel movement, but can also persist at rest. The cause of the pain are ulcers and erosion on the surface of the formations. They can also cause bleeding. The papilla itself is characterized by rapid growth. When their size reaches 5 cm or more, they can fall out of the rectum. In this case, patients feel the presence of a foreign body in the anus.
Hypertrophic anal papillae can become inflamed. As a result, the functioning of the sphincter is impaired. Perhaps the release of mucus from the back opening. Other symptoms of the pathological process are blood in the feces, a feeling of incomplete bowel movement.
Diagnostic Methods
A proctologist is involved in the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of the disease. First, he interviews the patient, examines his complaints and anamnesis. After this, a set of instrumental and laboratory studies is prescribed.
The first group includes the following activities:
- sigmoidoscopy (insertion of a probe into the rectum to examine its mucosa);
- fibrocolonoscopy (procedure for assessing the condition of the colon);
- Ultrasound
- transrectal ultrasonography.
During a digital examination, the proctologist can easily feel the hypertrophic anal papillae. If the patient is asked to strain, the formations will fall out of the intestine.
Laboratory tests include stool analysis for occult blood, a general blood test. To exclude the oncological process, histology of biomaterial is also prescribed. Differential diagnosis is carried out with hemorrhoids, polyps, malignant neoplasms.
Therapy Features
Treatment of hypertrophied anal papillae may be conservative or surgical. Similar formations are present in the rectum in almost every person. If they do not cause discomfort, and their size remains within the normal range, specific therapy is not required.
In the case of the development of the pathological process, treatment should be aimed at eliminating the cause of inflammation. If you simply remove the papillae surgically, after a while they will grow again, and the itching and burning in the anus will return.
Conservative treatments
The basis of conservative therapy is a special diet aimed at improving bowel function and normalizing stool. All harmful foods, as well as alcohol, should be excluded from the diet. Sweet, salty and spicy foods fall under the ban. All products must be heat treated. Viscous cereals on water, vegetable stew, lean meat are allowed. Dishes should be cooked in a double boiler or baked in the oven.
Additionally, all patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, antibacterial drugs, suppositories and ointments with similar effects. Specific medications, the duration of their use and dosage are determined by the doctor. For constipation, laxatives are recommended, and in case of diarrhea, antidiarrheals. Useful lotions based on "Furacilina" or "Chlorhexidine."
If hemorrhoids are the cause of the disease, rectal injections of Novocaine are prescribed. Another effective drug for this problem is Proctonol. According to patients, he does not just stop unpleasant symptoms, but really treats hemorrhoids.
Surgical intervention
Surgical intervention for papillitis is extremely rare. Most often this happens due to the refusal of the patients themselves from such a radical method of treatment. However, due to the high likelihood of developing colon cancer, most doctors still insist on surgery. It is carried out on an outpatient basis, if the neoplasm is single, and the clinical picture of the patient is not accompanied by other health problems.
Surgical intervention involves excision of hypertrophied anal papillae or cauterization with liquid nitrogen. Under the influence of cold, ice crystals form in the neoplasm cells, which contributes to their accelerated death. The advantage of cryodestruction is the absence of scars and bleeding after the intervention. Surgical treatment is performed using local anesthesia. It rarely causes complications and leads to negative consequences.
After surgery, patients are advised to adhere to a sparing diet for some time to avoid constipation and injury to the intestinal mucosa. Also in the recovery period, you should abandon the use of cleansing enemas and rectal suppositories, intimate contacts. In more detail about all the restrictions on the time of rehabilitation should tell the attending physician at a consultation.
Possible complications
If timely treatment of papillitis is not started, gradually erosion and ulcers will form on the tops of the papillae. Due to constant trauma to this area, patients are disturbed by blood from the anus. Even the usual bowel movement ends with the appearance of discharge. As a result, characteristic granulations appear on the surface of the formations. When the patient ignores these symptoms, the likelihood of degeneration of healthy soft tissues to malignant increases. So begins the oncological process in the rectum.
Prevention Methods
The development of papillitis is quite simple to prevent. To do this, you must adhere to the simple recommendations of doctors:
- rinse the anal passage after each bowel movement;
- once a month to do preventive baths with decoctions of herbs;
- engage in exercise therapy in order to improve blood circulation in the pelvic organs;
- adhere to a healthy lifestyle;
- with constipation, you need to see a doctor and start taking laxatives (the use of enemas is not recommended);
- regularly visit a proctologist for examination;
- timely treat gastrointestinal diseases.
Any pathology is easier to prevent than to subsequently engage in its treatment and restore the body after taking medication. Therefore, adhere to these recommendations should be even in the absence of visible health problems.