Patients at risk for excessive flatus:
(1) colostomy
(2) aerophagia
(3) dietary (lactose intolerance, beans, etc)
(4) anal sphincter incompetence
Factors associated with problematic flatus:
(1) foul odor
(2) audible noise
(3) inability to control
(4) frequency
Factors impacting the quality of life:
(1) abdominal discomfort, cramping and bloating
(2) embarrassment from odor
(3) embarrassment from sound
(4) ridicule from others
As a result of these concerns that affected person may:
(1) become isolated, with avoidance of others
(2) become depressed
(3) lose out on opportunities at work
(4) miss social or recreational opportunities
Factors that can improve the quality of life:
(1) adjusting diet to reduce gas production
(2) becoming educated in ways to reduce gas (talking to a colostomy nurse, etc).
(3) masking the odor (the Japanese have developed pills that make a flatus small pleasant, thereby avoiding any risk of causing offense)
