Constipation in children is a very common situation that I come across in my Kids Gastro Care clinics. The research literature often quotes a stat that up to 25 % of visits to a paediatric gastroenterologist are about constipation. Here I will discuss in some more detail, just one particular aspect of constipation in children, that of faecal incontinence or poo accidents. It is commonly associated with faecal impaction. For more on the diagnosis and management of constipation in children please click here. Being a 'poo doctor' I have become very used to talking about all aspects of bowel function and poo every day - just ask my kids! This isn't always the case for many others. There is still a great deal of stigma attached to poo problems in children and adults of all ages. One such area is around Poo accidents in children. Also called soiling, encopresis and faecal incontinence, it is not often the first thing that families talk about when I meet them in my clinics. In fact it may only come up when I directly ask about them. Poo accidents can be a tremendous source of upset, embarrassment, as well as social awkwardness, isolation and shame. They can leave parents frustrated at times as it is difficult to understand how their child can not seem to control their bowel motions. Sometimes children are told that they're being lazy and it can be easy to blame the child for the situation. I have seen children who needed upward of 8 changes of underwear and clothes a day because of poo accidents. Schools often send children home when these accidents occur. What should be fun childhood social activities such as swimming and sleep overs are limited or even stopped all together for fear of the dreaded accident happening. In the majority of children with poo accidents, the most common reason for this to occur is constipation. In some there is no significant constipation. I won't go into detail about that situation here in this post, as other aspects of care, often with a psychological emphasis, need to be addressed in greater detail. When there is a significant build up of poo within the large intestine (colon) or 'poo factory' as I call it, this is known as faecal impaction . Often the build up occurs in the very last section of the colon called the rectum - a sort of holding area for poo before it is passed out of the body. The impacted faeces sits in the colon and builds up gradually over time becoming more and more firm. Newer poo can sometimes slide past this mass of older poo, and slip out unannounced, as an accident. Sometimes this can be mistaken for diarrhoea. The rectum becomes more and more stretched over time. The usually sensitive rectum, loses its ability to sense being filled up with new poo as it has been stretched beyond its usual dimensions. Accidents can occur at any time, often seemingly without the child even noticing. To add to an already difficult situation, and because of the close location of the stretched rectum to the bladder, wee accidents can also become a part of the problem. Often this situation isn't recognised for what it is until late in the journey. A crucial early step is understanding what has happened and explaining how it has developed, using a non-judgemental, no blame approach. This combined with the right type of laxative treatment then aims to clear out - or disimpact - the old mass of poo that's been sitting there probably for some time. Occasionally, a special type of x ray of the tummy, a so called shape study (colonic transit study) may be used to help clarify the situation and visually demonstrate the build up of poo. The X ray picture at the top of this blog post, shows an accumulation of shapes in a mass of faeces in the pelvis,. This is in the last part of the colon with a stretched rectum. Other parts of the colon are also loaded with poo. The sensation of needing to go is weakened by this stretch of the rectum and so accidents occur regularly. The good news is that often dramatic improvements can be made when the situation is recognised and then managed appropriately with disimpaction . I have seen children go from having multiple accidents each day to none overnight, with a simple intervention using laxatives to clear out the impacted rectum . Disimpaction can either involve taking several days of oral laxatives in increasing amounts , or as an alternative more direct way, using 2 or 3 days of laxatives administered rectally - using enemas. Occasionally a combined approach is useful. Once this crucial first step has taken place, then a regular schedule of laxatives is needed to keep the colon clear and prevent a further build up. I really feel it's time to break down these taboos around poo and get this issue more widely recognised and then treated properly. Talking about poo with a fun down to earth approach is a start. It is only poo after all... If you think your child may be experiencing issues similar to those I have mentioned in this post, please do have a look at the Kids Gastro Care website for more information about constipation in children . If they're having troubles with their bowel control and you'd like to discuss things in more detail in an appointment with me, then please don't hesitate to be in touch and give us a call . The ERIC website , run by ERIC -the Childrens Bowel and bladder charity- is a fantastic resource for families affected by these issues. Please do help support their amazing work if you can by making a donation. I recently posted about this on our Facebook page with a request for donations for ERIC.

Every so often during my weekly paediatric endoscopy list, a striking image comes up on the screen, that makes me stop and reflect on the wonders of the human body. Here you can see a healthy-looking duodenum, from a recent paediatric endoscopy of the upper Gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This type of diagnostic endoscopy is also known as an Oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD for short) or Gastroscopy. The duodenum, the first, and shortest part of the small intestine, derives its name from the Latin word duodeni. This refers to its length being approximately 12 finger-breadths. Partially digested stomach contents, in an acidic semi-fluid mass known as chyme, leave the stomach via the pylorus and enter the duodenum. Here further digestive processes take place. To help get your bearings with the image here, I'll explain a little more about some of the terminology and jargon used by an endoscopist. The central cavity of any hollow tube within the body is knows as its lumen. Having a good clear view of the lumen is essential during endoscopic procedures such as an OGD or colonoscopy. When trying to describe where a specific or noticeable feature or point of interest is during a procedure, and for ease of reference, endoscopists tend to compare the lumen of the bowel to a clock face. The protrusion visible at the 9 o'clock position, is the duodenal papilla. This is an important landmark seen during endoscopic procedures involving the upper gastrointestinal tract such as an OGD or ERCP. The latter is a specialised type of endoscopy used to look at the gall bladder, pancreas and their associated pipework (or ducts to be more formal). Digestive juices from the gallbladder and the pancreas are transported downstream via these sophisticated pipes (ducts) to just behind or upstream of the papilla. They are mixed together, then squirted through the papilla, into the lumen of the duodenum, to mix with the chyme and help with digestion. These digestive juices contain: - Bile salts that help emulsify fat - Pancreas enzymes to help digest food - Bicarbonate to neutralise the acidity of the chyme and protect the lining of the small intestine from acid damage. Anyone who has experienced the pain brought on by a gallstone lodged in some of the ducts draining the gallbladder or pancreas, can testify to the fact that it is almost impossible to stand during such an episode. Although less common in children, gallstones can occur and are associated with bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease. I couldn't help but think how fitting are the words of the blessing for good health "Asher Yatzar". "Blessed... who has formed man with wisdom and created within him many openings and hollow spaces. It is obvious and known before Your Seat of Honor, that if even one of them would be opened, or one of them would be sealed, it would be impossible [to survive and] to stand before You.” This is recited at times most of us take for granted, after going to the loo for a wee or a poo for example. There was just something about this image that made me recognise the importance of being grateful for simple things, such as all our pipes and tubes being in good working order. For more about common topics related to paediatric gastroenterology, digestion and endoscopy click here . And if you would like to meet to discuss a digestive problem your child has, please don't hesitate to be in touch by calling us or sending us an email .