Colorectal disease very very common subset of problems in adult and old age group and it needs timely attention. Dietary factors, smoking, environmental factors and familial tendency do play major role in these problems. Overview of few colorectal diseases and their treatments are mentioned below.
- Colorectal Cancer
It causes changes in bowel habits, lump abdomain, pain, tenesmus, urgency of stools, mucous in stools and rectal bleeding. High-risk factors are family or personal history of colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, polyps, or cancer of other organs.
- Treatment
Surgery remains the mainstay of the treatment in most of the colonic cancers. radiation and chemotherapy play major role in rectal cancers followed by surgery.prognossis if colorectal detected and managed on time remains good.
- Ulcerative Colitis
It involves inflammation of your large intestine that may lead to large bowel cancer. Symptoms include bleeding with bowel movements, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.
- Treatment
- Medicines may be primarily prescribed.
- Chronic cases require surgery. Proctocolectomy removes the whole colon, rectum and anus, and creates a Brooke ileostomy. The newest method is the ileoanal procedure which removes your colon and rectum, replacing them by a small bowel pouch, and preserving your anal canal.
- Crohn’s Disease
It’s chronic inflammation, mainly of the intestinal tract. It mostly affects young adults between 16-40.
- Treatment
- Immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory medication is initially prescribed.
- In more critical cases, resection and anastomosis surgeries are recommended.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
It involves intestinal muscle dysfunction causing diarrhoea, constipation, pain, cramps and bloating.
- Treatment
- Sometimes stress reduction and mental health counselling are helpful. In other cases, increasing the intake of liquids and bulk-forming foods may be beneficial.
- In severities, medications to help regulate intestinal muscle contractions may be prescribed.
- Diverticulitis
Diverticulosis is the presence of diverticula (pockets) in your colon wall. Diverticulitis is the inflammation of diverticula.
- Treatment
- Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are mostly treated with a low-fat, high-fibre diet and sometimes by medications (antibiotics and stool softeners) to relieve cramps, pain and alterations in bowel habits.
- Surgical removal of a part of the colon is needed only with recurrent episodes, critical attacks or complications.
- Haemorrhoids
External haemorrhoids near your anus are hard, sensitive lumps that painfully swell with blood clot formation. Internal haemorrhoids, within your anus beneath its lining, painlessly bleed during bowel movements. Risk factors include bowel dysfunction, straining while bowel movements, diarrhoea or chronic constipation, heredity and pregnancy.
- Treatment
- Mild symptoms may be addressed by increasing your consumption of fibre and liquids.
- Acute haemorrhoids may be removed by litigation, injection and coagulation, or a haemorrhoidectomy.
- Anal Fissure
It’s a small tear in your anal lining due to a hard, dry bowel movement, diarrhoea, or anorectal inflammation.
- Treatment
- Most fissures cure by themselves with avoidance of constipation, stool softeners and/or sitz bath (soaking in warm water).
- If the fissure doesn’t cure due to muscle spasm of your internal anal sphincter muscle or scarring, surgery may be needed to relieve pressure in your anal canal.
- Bowel Incontinence
It’s the restrained ability to control stool release or gas because of a weakened or injured anal muscle due to childbirth, old age or other injuries.
- Treatment
- Mild incontinence may be relieved by constipation medications, dietary changes and simple exercises to strengthen muscles.
- In other cases, biofeedback may help sense stool evacuation, or anal muscles may be surgically repaired.
New procedures include placing a nerve stimulator or injecting a bulking agent in your anus.
