Epidemiology
Epidemiological studies on the prevalence of fecal incontinence in children are scarce and generally outdated. One 2005 study from Amsterdam found a prevalence of 4.1% in children 5 to 6 years of age and 1.6% in children 11 to 12 years of age. The overall prevalence of fecal incontinence was found to be 3%, with more boys (3.7%) than girls (2.4%) being affected.[4]
The prevalence of childhood soiling is consistently found to be more common in boys; one cross-sectional study of 19,240 children ages 5 to 13 years reported that 811 boys (9.8%) and 482 girls (5.8%) experienced fecal incontinence.[5] In another cross-sectional study of children ages 10 to 16 years, an epidemiology survey of 2686 respondents showed that of the 55 (2.0%) with fecal incontinence, 43 (78.2%) were boys and 45 (81.8%) were classified as constipated using Rome III criteria.[6] The highest prevalence of fecal incontinence was seen in children ages 10 years (5.4%).
Anorectal malformations occur in 1 in 5000 live births, and 25% of these children experience fecal incontinence that requires long-term treatment.[7]
More than 50% of children with Hirschsprung disease may experience fecal incontinence after surgery, but most are continent by adolescence.[8]
Neural tube defects, specifically spina bifida, occur in about 2500 newborns per year and with an incidence of 1 in 1200 to 1400 live births.[9] Virtually all affected children will experience some degree of fecal incontinence.
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