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Rectal prolapse Causes and Risks:
Rectal prolapse, when protruding through the anus, appears as a red mass which may be several inches long. The rectal mucosa is visible and may bleed slightly. Rectal prolapse occurs predominantly in children under age 6.
Rectal prolapse is often associated with other conditions such as:
Prevention:
Treating the contributing condition usually is sufficient to prevent rectal prolapse.
Symptoms:
- protrusion of a reddish mass from the anal opening especially following a bowel movement
Signs and Tests:
See the individual conditions.
Treatment:
The rectal mucosa must be replaced manually. A soft, warm, wet cloth is used to apply gentle pressure to the mass to push it back through the anal opening. Gravity can assist if the child is placed in the knee-chest position before applying pressure. Surgery is seldom indicated.
The underlying condition must be treated.
Prognosis:
Treating the underlying condition is usually curative.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call your health care provider promptly if there is a rectal prolapse.
Protrusion of the rectal mucosa from the anus is caused by several conditions. This case was caused by trichuriasis, a form of roundworm infection. Trichuria are also called whipworms. The worms can be seen clinging to the surface of the rectal mucosa. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
This is the classical appearance of the trichiura egg. The eggs are highly infectious. After a person eats contaminated food the worms hatch from the eggs and live in the intestine causing vomiting and diarrhea. The worms are called whipworms. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
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