Chlamydial Proctitis Mimicking Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Young Active Duty Sailor With Undiagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Case Report.

This article focuses on the clinical importance of distinguishing infectious proctitis, particularly chlamydial proctitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients presenting with rectal inflammation. It presents a case of a young male sailor initially suspected of having IBD but ultimately diagnosed with chlamydial proctitis and concomitant HIV-1 infection after comprehensive sexual history and STI screening. The report emphasizes that symptoms and endoscopic findings of chlamydial proctitis can mimic IBD, underscoring the need for thorough sexual history-taking and STI testing to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely treatment, including doxycycline for chlamydial infection and antiretroviral therapy for HIV. The article also highlights the role of preventive measures such as HIV screening and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in at-risk populations, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM).