What is Fecal incontinence ?

Fecal incontinence is the loss of control over expenditure stool (bowel movement uncontrolled).


CAUSE
Fecal incontinence can occur during an attack of diarrhea or if a hard stool stuck in rectum (fecal impaction).

Fecal incontinence is settled can occur in:
- People who suffered anal injuries or spinal cord
- Rectal prolapse (protrusion of the rectum through the anus lining)
- Senile
- Neurologic injury in diabetes
- Anal tumors
- Injury in the pelvis due to childbirth.


SYMPTOMS
Symptoms can include watery feces seeped along with flue gas from the rectum or the patient was not able to control the discharge of feces.


Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis, examination of the possibility of structural abnormalities or neurological disorders that can cause this condition. Included in it are:
- Examination of the anus and rectum
- Check the level of sensation around the anus
- Sigmoidoiskopi examination.

It may also be required examinations nerve function and muscle layer of the pelvis.


TREATMENT
The first step to rectify this situation is trying to have a habit of defecation (bowel movements) is regular, which will result in the form of a normal stool. Making changes in eating patterns, in the form of the addition amount of fiber. If those things mentioned above do not help, given drugs that slow contractions of the intestines, such as loperamide.

Exercising the muscles of the anus (the sphincter) will increase the tension and strength and help prevent recurrence. With biofeedback, the patient re-train sphincter and improve rectal sensitivity to the presence of feces. If this situation persists, surgery may help the healing process. For example, if the cause is injury to the anus or anatomical abnormalities in the anus.

The last option is a colostomy, which is making a hole in the abdominal wall associated with the large intestine. The anus is closed (sutured) and discard the patient stool in a plastic bag attached to the hole.