title: Fecal incontinence in elderly patients: common, treatable, yet often undiagnosed.
abstract: It is important for primary care physicians to take fecal incontinence seriously and not dismiss it as a normal part of aging. Elderly patients may be reluctant to admit fecal incontinence, so clinicians need to ask about it. Two of the most common causes are fecal impaction (especially in nursing home patients) and rectosphincter dysfunction in people with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Tyler K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Edy E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Soffer
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004733:Enema; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics