Faecal impaction: hard stools that are difficult to evacuate
- Posted on 08/08/2024 16:56
- Film
- By abelozih@sante-education.tg
Extract from the article: Elles sont nombreuses ces personnes qui ont des difficultés à déféquer ou faire les selles. La raison, est qu’elles sont bloquées et ne peuvent pas sortir normalement. Selon les spécialistes, il se peut que ce soit un fécalome.
Many
people find it difficult to defecate or have a bowel movement. The reason is
that they are blocked and cannot pass normally. According to specialists, this
may be a faecal impaction.
A
faecal impaction is a blockage of faeces that accumulates over several days in
the final part of the intestine (terminal colon and rectal ampulla). These
stools are dehydrated and very hard and are difficult to evacuate. Faecal
impaction is more common in people who suffer from constipation.
Causes
of faecal impaction
The
main cause of faecal impaction is chronic constipation. A person is a victim of
chronic or persistent constipation if these situations are present in their
life: lack of physical exercise, sedentary lifestyle, low-fibre diet,
insufficient hydration, taking certain medicines that cause constipation,
nervous system disorders.
Symptoms
of faecal impaction
Absence
of stools or the presence of liquid stools in small quantities, a feeling of
heaviness in the rectum, abdominal pain.
Tips
for eliminating hard stools
You
need to eat more green vegetables, wheat bran and other fibre-rich fruits to
ease bowel movements.You can also make laxative infusions or teas to help with
bowel movements and soften hard stools.You need to drink enough water, between
1.5 and 2 litres a day, to soften hard stools. There are also medical methods
that can be prescribed by a doctor.These include lubricating the rectum or
softening the stools with a rectal enema.
If
the stools refuse to come out for several days, a serious situation can arise,
known as occlusive syndrome, characterised by abdominal pain with complete
cessation of intestinal transit, gas and flatulence, and vomiting. You need to
react quickly because this is a surgical emergency.
Measures
to prevent faecal impaction
You
need to eat a diet rich in fibre (vegetables, fruit, cereals, tubers); drink
enough water every day; take part in daily physical activity; and detect and
change the medication causing the constipation.
Gamé
KOKO
Source:
Dr Raquel Correia, General Practitioner (France)
