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Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for Child Non-retentive Fecal Incontinence
Diagnostic checklist for non-retentive faecal incontinence in children.
Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for Child Non-retentive Fecal Incontinence
Developmental age ≥4 years
Defecation into places inappropriate to the social context, occurring at least once per month for the last 1 month
No evidence of faecal retention on history or examination
Incontinence not fully explained by another medical condition after appropriate evaluation
ResultCriteria not met
All 4 criteria (age ≥4 years, monthly-or-more inappropriate defecation for ≥1 month, no faecal retention, no other explanation) must be met.
When to use
- Evaluating a toilet-trained child with recurrent soiling once faecal retention/constipation has been excluded.
Formula
In a child of developmental age ≥4 years: defecation in socially inappropriate places ≥monthly for ≥1 month, no evidence of faecal retention, and no other medical explanation.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Distinguishing from retentive (overflow) incontinence is essential because management differs — disimpaction/laxatives are not the primary treatment here.