Enemas Are Not Effective for Treatment of Functional Fecal Incontinence in Children

The rate of treatment success with or without enemas was distressingly poor, although the frequency of urinary incontinence decreased after 1 year.

Conventional therapy for functional fecal incontinence (FI) not associated with constipation in children includes education, toilet training, and a daily defecation diary with a reward system. To examine if enemas are effective, investigators randomized 71 children (age range, 4–17 years) with at least one episode of FI per week, at least three stools per week, and no fecal retention to receive conventional therapy with or without enemas. Children received once daily enemas for 2 weeks and then frequency was reduced by one to two times per week if treatment resulted in a 50% reduction in FI episodes. After 6 weeks, children in the control group were allowed to use enemas.

After 6 weeks, median FI frequency did not differ between the two grou…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)