Can proctitis cause fever?

In general, whether proctitis causes fever mainly depends on the type of proctitis. If the proctitis is caused by an infection, fever is commonly present. However, if it is chronic nonspecific proctitis or autoimmune proctitis, the fever may not be obvious. If fever develops, prompt medical attention is recommended.

Proctitis is an inflammatory reaction of the rectal mucosa caused by various factors, such as infection, autoimmune response, radiation damage, or chemical irritation. When proctitis is caused by infectious factors, especially acute bacterial proctitis, patients often experience high fever, which is a defensive response of the body to pathogens. In such cases, fever not only indicates active inflammation but also represents one of the ways the body attempts to inhibit pathogen growth by raising body temperature.

However, in cases of chronic nonspecific proctitis or autoimmune proctitis, fever may be absent or present only as a low-grade fever, as the inflammatory process is slower and the release of inflammatory mediators is relatively milder. Fever, as a symptom of proctitis, cannot be used alone to diagnose the condition.

In daily life, maintaining good lifestyle and dietary habits can help prevent proctitis.