Rx Note

Introduction Constipation is a very common symptom where public walks into a community pharmacy looking for self-treatment. Symptoms of constipation commonly include: Difficulty passing stools A feeling of incomplete evacuation Abdominal discomfort and bloating Gather Patient Information As a community pharmacist, the three things that you should do are: To establish the patient's current bowel habit compared with normal Constipation involves the passage of hard stools less frequently than is normal. "Normal" can be anything from two or three times a day to two or three times a week; it is the change that is important! To identify if there is any indicative of referral Longer than 14 days' duration with no identifiable cause Pain on defecation that might cause the patient to suppress the defecation reflex Constipation alternating with diarrhoea Blood in the stools Infants under the age of 3 months - to exclude organic causes such as Hirschsprung's disease Then co...

Introduction Faecal incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of solid or liquid faeces. Based on the mechanism, it is divided into the following: Urge incontinence is characterized by the desire to defecate, but incontinence occurs despite efforts to retain stool. Passive incontinence is characterized by the lack of awareness of the need to defecate before the incontinent episode. The prevalence is higher in adults that are ≥65 years old and care-seeking (adults in home care and long-term care settings). General Approach All staff working with people with faecal incontinence should be aware of the physical and emotional impact this condition can have on their patients and their carers. Consider patients' needs and preferences when planning treatment and ensure they have the opportunity to make informed decisions in this partnership. Initial management of faecal incontinence consists of supportive care, medical therapy and pelvic floor physical therapy. Supportive care...