Thursday, May 23, 2013

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Soiling; Incontinence - stool


Symptoms
  • Inability to retain feces (bowel incontinence)
  • Passing stool in inappropriate places (generally in the child's clothes)
  • Secretive behavior associated with bowel movements
  • Constipation and hard stools
  • Occasional passage of very large stool that almost blocks up the toilet

Signs and tests

Digital examination of the rectal area may show a fecal impaction. An abdominal x-ray may confirm impacted stool in the colon.



Review Date: 09/13/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)