Ulcerative proctitis is a milder form of the condition of ulcerative colitis.
This means that the inflammation starts at the anus but extends up only about 20 centimetres or less. The age distribution of patients with ulcerative proctitis is the same as that of ulcerative colitis and thus the peak occurrence is in people from their teens through their 30s. Like ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the rectum. As in all other types of inflammatory bowel disease, the cause of ulcerative proctitis is unknown. Thus it is not thought to be due to stress, infection or allergy.