The gay bowel syndrome: a common problem of homosexual patients in the emergency department.

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.