Faecal Incontinence

Abstract

Faecal incontinence has been variously defined. For the purposes of this chapter, it will be taken to mean “the involuntary or inappropriate passage of faeces”.¹ The term “anal incontinence” is usually used to denote any involuntary leakage, whether of solid, liquid or gas. Although the problem does increase with advancing age and disability, there are also large numbers of young otherwise healthy adults with this distressing symptom. The most recent community study in the western world surveyed 2570 households comprising 6959 people in the USA by telephone interview and found that 2.2% of the population reported some anal incontinence (0.8% were incontinent of solid stool, 1.2% of liquid stool and 1.3% of flatus). Two-thirds of those reported as anally incontinent were under 65 years old, and 63% were female. These results are in response to the question “in the last year, have you or anyone in your household experienced unwanted or unexpected or embarrassing loss of control of bowels or gas?”² Ten per cent of those reporting incontinence had more than one episode per week, one-third had restricted their activities as a result of their incontinence and only 36% had consulted a doctor about it.²