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Faecal incontinence

Incontinentia alvi · Inkontinence stolice

What it is

Involuntary loss of stool or gas — up to 1 in 10 adults, yet rarely mentioned; causes include childbirth tears, loose stools, nerve damage and ageing.

Symptoms & signs

  • Leakage of stool or gas
  • urgency, not reaching the toilet
  • soiled underwear
  • sore skin
  • shame and withdrawal

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden loss of bowel control with back pain or numb buttocks
  • see a doctor soon Blood in the stool or a change in bowel habit for weeks
  • see a doctor soon Leaking liquid around hard stool, with belly pain
  • see a doctor soon Leakage after childbirth or surgery

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Examination, anal ultrasound and pressure tests
  • Loperamide for loose stools trials support
  • Pelvic-floor training with biofeedback mixed evidence
  • Sacral nerve stimulation mixed evidence
  • repair of sphincter defects
  • Bulking injections mixed evidence
  • colostomy as a last resort

Natural & lifestyle

  • Psyllium fibre to firm the stool mixed evidence
  • regular toilet times
  • avoid trigger foods and caffeine
  • barrier creams for the skin

Emerging & experimental

  • Tibial nerve stimulation — no better than sham (CONFIDeNT) not confirmed in trials
  • stem-cell sphincter regeneration
  • magnetic sphincter

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Electroacupuncture — small trials early / small studies
  • Herbal remedies for loose stools — untested anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes