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Fecal impaction - Symptom

Alternative Names

Impaction of the bowels

Symptoms:

Abdominal cramping
Frequent straining with passage of liquid
Rectal bleeding
Small, semi-formed stools
Sudden, watery diarrhea in someone who has chronic constipation

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will examine your stomach area and rectum. The rectal exam will reveal a hard mass of dry stool in the rectum.

If there has been a recent change in your bowel habits, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to evaluate for colon or rectal cancer.

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 1/24/2009
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Nelson H. Diseases of the rectum and anus. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 148.

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