What are the symptoms of rectal mucosal prolapse

The symptoms of rectal mucosal prolapse mainly include rectal prolapse or abnormal defecation, often with symptoms of constipation, diarrhea or fecal incontinence, and some patients may also experience adverse conditions such as frequent urination and abdominal distension.

1. Escape

The main symptom of rectal prolapse is the protrusion of the rectum outside the anus. In mild cases, the rectum prolapses out of the anus when defecation increases abdominal pressure. At first, the rectum can be returned to its original position by itself, but gradually it cannot be returned by itself and needs to be returned by hand. In severe cases, the rectal wall mucosa and anal sphincter relax, and the rectum prolapses out of the anus in addition to defecation when sneezing, coughing, passing gas, working hard, walking, standing or sitting for a long time.

2. Abnormal defecation

There may be constipation, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, tenesmus, etc. Constipation is the most common, accounting for about 50%-70%. Rectal mucosal bleeding and mucus in the stool are also quite common.

3. Local symptoms

Due to long-term stimulation of foreign bodies by the rectal mucosa, the rectal mucosa becomes congested and edematous. In severe cases, the surface ulcers appear, and symptoms such as excessive mucus secretion, bleeding, pain and soreness in the anus, frequent urination, and abdominal distension appear.

Clinically, there are many diseases that cause rectal mucosal relaxation, mainly the following:

(1) Internal hemorrhoids: When the internal hemorrhoids protrude from the anus during defecation, if the hemorrhoids retract on their own after defecation, they are stage II internal hemorrhoids; if the hemorrhoids cannot retract after defecation and need to be repositioned by manipulation, they are stage III internal hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are purple or bright red, shaped like strawberries, and the mucosa is thin and prone to bleeding.

(2) External hemorrhoids are often caused by dry and hard stool. After straining during defecation, a swelling or pain may occur outside the anus. The swelling is round and tender. There are purple-blue nodules under the skin. Most of them are thrombosed external hemorrhoids. According to Jinan Antai Anorectal Hospital, repeated minor injuries and infections of the anal skin may leave skin tags after the inflammation subsides. These are connective tissue external hemorrhoids. The only symptoms are discomfort in the anus after defecation, difficulty in cleaning, or itching.