Fecal Incontinence
Fecal continence is one of the most important achievements in a child's development. Ability to control passage of stool is one of the first manifestations of independence by which interaction with parents and environment is exerted by the child.
Fecal continence, which is usually reached by the age of two to three, may be partially or entirely compromised in children born with some anomalies of the large bowel (anorectal anomalies and Hirschsprung's disease) or anomalies of the innervation of the pelvic organs such as spina bifida.
Fecal incontinence has a significant social impact regardless of the age it arises.
Moral conditioning, which is usually associated with toilet training, leads to a close association between stool and something "dirty" and negative.
It is not difficult to imagine the kinds of difficulties a child can go through when he / she is unable to control the stool.
Nowadays, much can be done for children with fecal incontinence. An accurate evaluation along with an appropriate follow-up program can have an enormous impact on psychological and social consequences of being incontinent.
Treatment of incontinence should be regarded as a "care" aiming at raising a child in a normal context with a normal lifestyle.
Bowel management is a treatment program which has been purposely conceived for children born with imperforate anus: however, it can be applied to all children with fecal incontinence.
For more information or to request an appointment, please contact the Colorectal Center at Cincinnati Children's.
