Fecal Incontinence Symptoms In Your Child

Fecal incontinence is a difficult condition for caregivers to manage. When you are dealing with an elderly loved one that has incontinence it is easy to purchase adult diapers and hope that they will wear them but what about fecal incontinence in your child? If you have a child that is suffering from fecal incontinence it is important to find out what is causing this condition to occur and to purchase the right type of supplies that will make it easier for you to manage their condition.

Children may deal with fecal incontinence for a number of reasons. Here are a few of the signs and symptoms that you need to be aware of:

1. Constipation – does your child have regular bowel movements or do they struggle to use the restroom? If they are constipated often, it is a sign that there is a blockage in the rectum. Not drinking enough water and eating a balanced diet can lead to constipation. Exercise is also vital as it helps the bowels to remain healthy and function properly. Children may feel embarrassed about needing to use the restroom and may shy away from releasing fecal matter when they are at school and even at home. If they are not allowing their body to release it, it may end up releasing at night or it may continue to build-up and your child may have a serious blockage that will require hospitalization. Purchase some incontinence bed pads is they do have accidents at night and continue encouraging them to use the bathroom daily. Make sure you are feeding them a balanced diet that is high in fiber. Fiber helps to soften stools, making them easier to pass. Plenty of water also helps to soften the stools and makes it much easier for children to pass stools.
2. Cramping and stomach aches – if your child is experiencing these symptoms it may be related to constipation but it can also indicate other rectal issues. Children often refuse to eat when they have cramping and stomach aches, which shows you that there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
3. Leakage – check your child’s underwear to see if there is some fecal leakage. This is embarrassing for your child and they may try to hide their underwear from you. Leakage often occurs because it comes from further up in the bowels as it passes the blockage. You might consider buying your child some adult diapers that are on the smaller side to see if it can capture the fecal matter as you work with their doctor to pass the blockage in the bowels.
4. Pain when using the bathroom – using products to help stimulate the bowels can force your child to go to the bathroom. If they are in a lot of pain as they try to pass the stool from the bowels, it indicates a blockage and problem. You may need to try an enema to help move the stool out of the bowels. In many cases you may need to take your child to the doctor to have them help remove the stool from the bowels.

It is important to watch your children closely and to know their bodies’ behaviors. You can easily tell when they are ill or when something is not right. If they are suffering from fecal incontinence it is important to look at their diet as it is usually to blame. If they have a healthy diet and exercise daily, there could be an issue with their rectum that may require surgery. Get them into the doctor right away for treatment before the issue gets worse. Purchase the Abena adult diapers in the meantime to help capture any fecal matter that leaks while your child’s bowels are being diagnosed and treated by the doctor.