The symptoms of encopresis are abdominal pain, lack of appetite, long periods of time between bowel movements, avoidance of bowel movements, passage of large poop which clogs or almost clogs the toilet, constipation with dry and hard poop and leakage of poop or liquid poop on underwear that can be mistaken for diarrhea.
Encopresis which is also known as soiling or fecal incontinence is the repeated passing of stool "poop" (usually involuntarily) into your underwear or pants.
Typically the encopresis happens when impacted poop collects in the colon and rectum.
The colon becomes too full and liquid poop leaks around the retained poop, staining underwear.
In most cases of encopresis the encopresis happens because a child has long-term (chronic) constipation.
When a child is constipated, he or she has fewer bowel movements than normal.
Bowel movements can then become hard, dry, and difficult to pass.
Some ways to fix and treat encopresis include.
laxatives to help the child pass the impacted stool.
Medication to keep bowel movements soft so the stool will pass easily.
And 5 to 10 minutes sitting on the toilet at home after breakfast and dinner.
While many children can outgrow encopresis, it's something that may continue into adulthood if it's not addressed during childhood.
Diapers or pull ups can help prevent the soiling of underwear and make it less embarrassing for the child with encopresis while it's being treated.