Fecal incontinence

Fecal incontinence (FI) can be defined as the inability to control defecation, leading to the involuntary or unintentional leakage of bowel contents (i.e., solid/liquid feces, and/or mucus). Severity can range from slight soiling of underclothes to the loss of a whole bowel motion. A more formal definition is “the recurrent uncontrolled passage of fecal material for at least 3 months” in individuals with a developmental age greater than 4 years old (Bharucha, 20031). The term “anal incontinence” may encompass loss of flatus control also.