Misdiagnosis of Underlying Causes of Fecal incontinence

About underlying conditions: With a diagnosis of Fecal incontinence, it is important to consider whether there is an underlying condition causing Fecal incontinence. These are other medical conditions that may possibly cause Fecal incontinence. For general information on this form of misdiagnosis, see Underlying Condition Misdiagnosis or Overview of Misdiagnosis

Underlying conditions list: The list of possible underlying conditions mentioned in various sources for Fecal incontinence includes:

Diarrhea - a common cause of temporary fecal incontinence
Chronic constipation (type of Constipation) - the most common cause of fecal incontinence in children
Fecal impaction
Pregnancy and childbirth related conditions:
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Childbirth - can cause spincter muscle or nerve damage or pelvic floor dysfunction; sometimes childbirth-caused fecal incontinence does not occur immediately but later in the 40's.
- Forcep delivery
- Episiotomy
Abdominal conditions
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Pelvic floor weakness
Rectal conditions
- Hemorrhoid surgery
- Straining bowel motions
- Anal sphincter muscle damage
- Anal sphincter nerve damage
- Rectal nerve damage
- Reduced rectal capacity
- Rectal surgery
- Rectal prolapse
- Rectocele - rectal protrusion into the vagina
- Rectal scarring
- Rectal tumor
- Rectal inflammation
- Reduced rectal sensation
- Reduced anal canal pressures
- Reduced anal squeeze pressure
- Reduced anal sensation
- Rectal cancer
- Rectal abnormality
- Anal abnormality
Nerve-damaging diseases - may affect the nerves of the rectal area or those controlling sphincter muscles.
- Spinal cord conditions (type of Neck conditions)
- Spinal cord injury
- Spinal cord compression
- Diabetes - nerve damage from diabetes
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Epilepsy
- Brain tumor
- Spinal cord tumor
- Brain injury
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- Dementia
- Parkinson's disease
Radiation treatment
Pelvic fracture
Anorectal surgery
Traumatic childbirth

Fecal incontinence as a complication: Other conditions that might have Fecal incontinence as a complication might be potential underlying conditions. The list of conditions listing Fecal incontinence as a complication includes:

Fecal incontinence as a symptom: Conditions listing Fecal incontinence as a symptom may also be potential underlying conditions:

Last revision: May 30, 2003

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