Question: My son 9 years has developed a condition where he purges continuously even without his knowledge. A gp recomended some medication to be taken for 7days now half way thru….but what in your opinion may be the cause. Thanks. (Shayne Liew)
Answer: Dear Shayne, continuous purging for the past 7 days, without his knowledge in the context that he was previously well should be seen by a doctor immediately. A thorough physical examination, past medical history, dietary and bowel habit history need to be obtained. External features and whether he is losing weight is also important. While it could be the cause of gastroenteritis, there could be other cause such as inflammatory bowel disease, and other rare gastrointestinal causes. Also, bowel incontinence may also be related to spinal and nervous system issues and thus examination of the central nervous system, anal tone is also important. You should seek medical attention immediately.