title: The gay bowel syndrome: a common problem of homosexual patients in the emergency department.
abstract: Sexually transmitted bowel and rectal diseases are common in gay men and are caused by a wide variety of infectious agents. Each of the entities implicated in the gay bowel syndrome is considered separately and epidemiologic considerations responsible for the appearance of such a syndrome are examined. The emergency physician should be prepared to diagnose and initiate treatment of these disorders on a rational basis. Specific practical guidelines for the workup and management of these patients are suggested.
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy