Sexually transmitted diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus. The challenge
of the nineties.

Wexner SD.

Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Fort Lauderdale.

During the past two decades, an explosive growth in both the prevalence and
types of sexually transmitted diseases has occurred. Up to 55 percent of
homosexual men with anorectal complaints have gonorrhea; 80 percent of the
patients with syphilis are homosexuals. Chlamydia is found in 15 percent of
asymptomatic homosexual men, and up to one third of homosexuals have active
anorectal herpes simplex virus. In addition, a host of parasites, bacterial,
viral, and protozoan are all rampant in the homosexual population.
Furthermore, the global epidemic of AIDS has produced a plethora of
colorectal manifestations. Acute cytomegalovirus ileocolitis is the most
common indication for emergency abdominal surgery in the homosexual AIDS
population. Along with cryptosporidia and isospora, the patient may present
to the colorectal surgeon with bloody diarrhea and weight loss before the
diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Other patients may
present with colorectal Kaposi's sarcoma or anorectal lymphoma, and
consequently will be found to have seropositivity for HIV. However, in
addition to these protean manifestations, one third of patients with AIDS
consult the colorectal surgeon with either condylomata acuminata, anorectal
sepsis, or proctitis before the diagnosis of HIV disease. Although
aggressive anorectal surgery is associated with reasonable surgical results
in some asymptomatic HIV positive patients, the same procedures in AIDS
(symptomatic HIV positive) patients will often be met with disastrous
results. It is incumbent upon the surgeon, therefore, to recognize the
manifestations of HIV disease and diagnose these conditions accordingly.




"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com...
This is a pretty serious disease. A friend of mine almost died from
it. They had to remove most of his colon to save his life.


Well in my case I never required the surgery. But it knocked me out for
quite a few years and for a while I wondered how much more I could
take. Still, I kept sailing, got married, had a son...and now I'm in
remission. I think it took the power of all three and a lot of effort
to do it or maybe I was just lucky. No sign of UC in my colon on my
last checkup and now I'm buying a hell of a nice boat.

RB
Beneteau First 35s5
NY