5 Reasons Why You Should See A Proctologist
Proctology is one of the lesser known branches of medicine, however, the pathologies it treats are very frequent. Below we will mention 5 reasons why you should go to the proctologist.
The constant medical check-up is one of the best ways to maintain good health, since it allows the early diagnosis of chronic diseases. However, many people forget to examine themselves with certain specialists, so today we will mention 5 reasons why you should go to the proctologist.
Proctology is a subspecialty of general surgery that is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of all diseases that affect the colon, rectum, and anus. The presence of these disorders often goes unnoticed until they reach a very advanced stage.
There is scientific evidence that states that diseases of this portion of the digestive system are more common in men over 50 years of age. In this way, this population group has greater reasons to go to the proctologist on a regular basis.
What kinds of conditions do proctologists treat?
Proctologists focus on all those pathologies that affect the terminal portion of the digestive system. In this sense, the specialists will be able to diagnose and treat all those conditions located in the colon, rectum and anus.
The symptoms with which many of these diseases occur is usually very subtle, so their diagnosis is difficult. The most common symptoms are changes in bowel habits, such as acute diarrhea and light bleeding when defecating, which can be attributed to external factors.
Among the most common pathologies that proctologists usually deal with, the following stand out:
- Hemorrhoids.
- Diverticular disease.
- Colon cancer.
- Meckel diverticulitis.
- Anal fistulas, abscesses and fissures.
The severity can vary depending on each particular case, requiring a surgical intervention on many occasions. On the other hand, there are occasions in which a conservative medical treatment will be more than enough to solve the presented clinical picture.
Reasons why you should go to the proctologist
It is always necessary to go to the doctor when any abnormality is evident in any part of the body. In this sense, one of the main reasons for consulting with these specialized surgeons is the presence of strange symptoms in the anorectal region.
On the other hand, everyone over 50 years of age should go to a consultation with this specialist as part of their routine medical check-up. Leaving the generalities aside, these are the 5 reasons why you should go to the proctologist.
1. Presence of blood when evacuating
Bleeding is considered one of the biggest red flags in any medical specialty. In the field of proctology, bleeding during or after defecation is a symptom that should call the attention of the specialist.
One of the main symptoms of internal hemorrhoids is bleeding. In addition, it is also part of the beginning of colon cancer. So it is vitally important to see a doctor if you notice the presence of blood when defecating. Only then will an early diagnosis be made and future complications will be avoided.
2. Pain in the perianal region
One of the main reasons for consultation in the area of proctology is pain, which can be very intense and affect the daily life of those who suffer from it. Rectal pain can be caused by benign and malignant pathologies, the main ones being hemorrhoids, abscesses, fistulas and anal fissures.
On the other hand, anal pain can be due to functional alterations. Defecation and even the way people walk are limited, so their presence is one of the main reasons to go to the proctologist.
3. Itching or itching in the area
Anal itching can indicate the presence of multiple diseases, however, not all of them are related to proctology. In young children, itching is often associated with parasitic infections. In fact, studies show that it is the main symptom of Enterobius vermicularis infection .
When pruritus occurs in adults over 40 years of age, the presence of an anorectal pathology should always be suspected. Fissures inside the anus, an anal prolapse, fistula discharge or the onset of a rectal abscess may be the cause.
4. Swelling or lumps in the anus
The anus has physiological corrugations caused by the external sphincter, however, they are neither protruding nor painful. Many people may notice a strange mass in the area when bathing or when using toilet paper, which have a variable etiology.
Lumps in the anus may be due to rectal prolapse, bulging hemorrhoids, or a perianal abscess. Most of these pathologies require surgical intervention, so you should go to the specialist as soon as possible to start the appropriate treatment.
5. Drainage and stains on underwear
Perianal fistulas are connections between the rectum and the external part of the body, while abscesses are collections of pus in the region. Both lesions are capable of supplying substances such as fecal matter or pus. The suppuration can be so little that the only evidence is the stains on the underwear.
Treatment of both pathologies should be started as soon as possible to avoid complications, sometimes requiring a surgical procedure. In this way, suppurations are one of the main reasons why you should go to the proctologist.
Constant check-up is essential
Despite not presenting any of the aforementioned circumstances, it is important to have a complete medical check-up on a frequent basis. Malignant diseases of the ano-rectal region are almost always asymptomatic, until they reach a very advanced stage and endanger the life of the patient.
The population at risk for these diseases are the elderly, especially male patients. In this sense, the preventive check-up acquires greater importance in this population group.
