Bowel Incontinence ICD-10-CM Codes
Read this short guide to learn about Bowel Incontinence ICD codes you can use.
Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.
What Bowel Incontinence ICD codes can I use?
Three are tied to it if you’re looking for Bowel Incontinence ICD codes. Here they are:
- R15.9 - Full incontinence of feces
This is the most specific ICD-10 code you’re looking for regarding bowel incontinence because it’s the only code that mentions incontinence and feces in its name. It’s meant for patients who have no control over their bowel movements.
- R15.1 - Fecal smearing
One of the characteristics of bowel incontinence is the tendency to have smears of fecal matter in underwear or whatever bottom clothing a person is wearing after taking a dump. If your patient often has soiled underwear or bottom clothing, this ICD-10 code applies to them.
- R15.2 - Fecal urgency
Another characteristic of bowel incontinence is the feeling of suddenly emptying your bowels and not making it to the bathroom in time. If this is the case for your patient with bowel incontinence, this ICD-10 code applies to them.
Please note that all three ICD-10 codes are not valid as principal diagnoses. Bowel incontinence is a symptom of a specific condition like Diarrhea and Constipation, so it’s best to use a particular ICD-10 code as a principal diagnosis. Then, these three can be used to support it and further explain the patient's health status.
Are these Bowel Incontinence ICD codes billable?
Yes. All three of these Bowel Incontinence-related ICD-10 codes are valid and billable.
Clinical Information
Bowel Incontinence, sometimes called Fecal Incontinence or Anal Incontinence, is the sudden inability to control bowel movements. What happens to a person with bowel incontinence is that their poop leaks from their rectum out of the blue, which can be embarrassing, depending on where the person is. Sometimes, the person with incontinence can feel it, and they can’t do anything to stop it. Sometimes, they don’t feel like pooping, but poop still emerges.
If any of these happen:
- Poop leaks at the same time as a fart,
- Poop leaks due to stress or when exerting physical effort for something,
- Poop is smeared in the underwear despite cleaning oneself after pooping,
- If a person has the feeling of having to go to the bathroom to poop and also feels that they won’t make it to the toilet before the poop comes out,
This means that the person has bowel incontinence.
Synonyms Include:
- Childhood double incontinence
- Complete fecal incontinence
- Double incontinence
- Encopresis with constipation AND overflow incontinence
- Fecal incontinence due to anorectal disorder
- Fecal incontinence following the creation of ileo-anal pouch
- Frequent fecal incontinence
- Functional fecal incontinence
- Idiopathic fecal incontinence
- Incontinence of feces
- Neuromyopathic fecal incontinence
- Non-retentive fecal incontinence
Commonly asked questions
The following can cause bowel incontinence: damage to the nerves that regulate bowel movement, Crohn’s Disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases, rectal prolapse, rectocele, getting older, and abuse of laxatives.
Healthcare professionals will resort to conducting any of the following: anal electromyography, anal manometry, anal ultrasound, and proctography, to mention a few
Healthcare professionals might prescribe fiber supplements and anti-diarrhea medicine. They might also suggest dietary changes that include food that can thicken stool and avoid food and fluids that can loosen them.
