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Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for Fecal Incontinence
Diagnostic checklist for faecal incontinence in adults.
Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for Fecal Incontinence
Developmental age ≥4 years
Recurrent uncontrolled passage of faecal material
Abnormal function of normally innervated and structurally intact pelvic-floor/anal-sphincter muscles
Minor abnormalities of anal sphincter structure and/or innervation
Normal or disordered bowel habits (faecal retention or diarrhoea)
Psychological cause(s) contributing
Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset ≥6 months before diagnosis
ResultCriteria not met
Diagnosis requires recurrent uncontrolled passage of stool in a person of developmental age ≥4 years, associated with ≥1 of the listed contributing factors, for the last 3 months (onset ≥6 months prior).
- Associated contributing factors
- 0 of 4
When to use
- Characterising recurrent faecal incontinence and its likely contributing mechanism(s).
Formula
Recurrent uncontrolled passage of faecal material (developmental age ≥4 years) associated with ≥1 of: abnormal pelvic-floor/sphincter function, minor sphincter structural/innervation abnormality, disordered bowel habit, or psychological cause, present for the last 3 months with onset ≥6 months before diagnosis.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Anorectal manometry, endoanal ultrasound, and defecography help identify the dominant mechanism and guide therapy.