HomeAnswersInternal Medicinebowel controlHow can I solve my son's bowel control problem?

How to solve my son's bowel control problem?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At February 11, 2017
Reviewed AtAugust 26, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

My son just turned 11. He has always been having bowel control problems. He always says that poo came too fast he cannot hold it and lost control on the way to the toilet even if the bathroom is very close. He is not constipated because his poo is never hard or difficult and he never had diarrhea either. I was thinking about why he is not able to hold the poo until he reaches the toilet. When I was researching on the internet, I came across the term developmental coordination disorder. I am not sure if he has a lighter version of this disorder. His intelligence is good, doing good in maths and reading at school. But, his sports ability is quite bad, and handwriting is a problem too. I read a description of developmental coordination disorder, and it is mainly about lack of motor skills. His bad sports ability makes me think if he has this disorder. He also has difficulty in performing school activities such as writing, coloring and using scissors. His walking is normal and never trip or run into others. I tried to toilet train him for a few months. Now it is the school holidays, and I did not continue with the potty train. Today, he soiled again. I am not sure if toilet train will help and maybe it is that I need to keep with it longer. How can I know if my son has developmental coordination disorder? How can I help him to solve the lack of bowel control problem?

Answered by Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. I would advise against immediately diagnosing him with developmental coordination disorder. It's important to explore potential underlying issues, such as nerve innervation defects affecting the rectal sphincter, which could be causing his inability to hold his stool. It might be beneficial to consult a pediatric gastroenterologist to conduct studies on colonic transit time and manometry. Developmental coordination disorder should be considered primarily when structural defects have been ruled out, following DSM-V criteria for diagnosis. Seeking guidance from a pediatric GI specialist would be a prudent first step.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

I will take him to a pediatric gastroenterologist. If a pediatric gastroenterologist checked and he is fine, then whom should I approach to determine whether he has developmental coordination disorder or not?

Answered by Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. If he is cleared by the gastroenterologist, then he should be seen either by a psychiatrist or a neurologist. Wishing him all the best in health and life. Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sadaf Mustafa
Dr. Sadaf Mustafa

Internal Medicine

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Internal Medicine

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy