What causes fecal incontinence in boys?

Under normal circumstances, the human body is able to control its own urination and defecation, but some children may experience fecal incontinence. In fact, this type of fecal incontinence is caused by some diseases. Although this type of situation does not pose a threat to life, it can have a great adverse impact on the patient's daily life. So what exactly causes fecal incontinence? Let’s find out with the editor.

1. Congenital malformation of the anus

(1) Developmental defects of the nervous system

Congenital lumbar meningocele or spina bifida may be accompanied by anal incontinence. The patient's external sphincter and puborectalis muscle lose their normal nerve innervation, have no contraction function, and are in a relaxed state. And because both the sensory and motor systems are affected, the rectal mucosa lacks a sense of expansion when filled with feces, cannot arouse the urge to defecate or initiate defecation, and the feces in the rectum can be discharged at any time. Such children often suffer from urinary incontinence.

(2) Anorectal malformation

The anorectum itself and the pelvic structure undergo changes, and the higher the blind end of the rectum is, the more obvious and complex the changes are. In high-position deformity, the blind end of the rectum is located above the pelvic diaphragm, the puborectalis muscle is shortened and obviously displaced forward and upward; the internal sphincter is absent or only in its rudiments; the external sphincter is mostly in a loose state, filled with fat tissue, and the muscle fibers have abnormal and disordered course. Its etiology is mainly related to the deformity accompanied by defects in the sensory and motor nerve tissue structure.

2. Trauma

Due to traumatic damage to the anorectal ring, the sphincter loses its sphincter function and leads to fecal incontinence. Such as puncture wounds, cuts, burns, frostbite and lacerations (mainly perineal lacerations during childbirth).

3. Nervous system diseases

It is common in brain trauma, brain tumors, cerebral infarction, spinal cord tumors, spinal tuberculosis, cauda equina injury, etc., which can all lead to fecal incontinence.

There are many ways to treat fecal incontinence in children, including medication or surgery. It is worth noting that paying attention to diet in daily life can also help improve children's fecal incontinence. Because people with fecal incontinence need to prevent diarrhea, they should avoid eating raw, cold, or irritating foods.