Fecal incontinence
Alternative Names
Rectal incontinenceWhat is Fecal incontinence
Fecal incontinence is the loss of regular control of the bowels. It is characterized by inability to control your bowel movements, triggering stool to leak unexpectedly from your rectum.
Signs and symptoms
In most cases adults do not experience this condition except for people who has recurring or chronic fecal incontinence. The most common symptoms of fecal incontinence include:
- inability to control the passage of gas or stools
- inability to make it to the toilet in time
Possible complications
Fecal incontinence can cause the following complications:
- emotional distress
- skin irritation
What causes
The most common causes of fecal incontinence include:
- constipation
- muscle damage
- nerve damage
- loss of storage capacity
- diarrhea
- pelvic floor dysfunction
- other causes
Other causes of fecal incontinence may include:
- excretory problems
- fecal impaction
- diseases, drugs, and indigestible dietary fats that interfere with the intestineal absorption
- lateral internal sphincterotomy (Surgical procedure for helping Anal fissures heal)
- seizure
Prevention
Possibility to prevent this condition depends on the underluing cause. You can try to prevent this condition be taking the following precautions:
- reduce constipation
- control diarrhea
- avoid straining
Treatment
You should discuss the treatment with your doctor. There are different methods of treating this condition.
Treatment with medications include:
- anti-diarrheal drugs
- laxatives
- stool softeners
- other medications
- therapies
- dietary changes
In some cases, bowel training is recommended.
Treatment involving surgery includes:
- sphincteroplasty
- treating rectal prolapse, a rectocele or hemorrhoids
- sphincter replacement
- sphincter repair
- injection of biomaterials
- colostomy
