Encopresis is a mental disorder and can also be a result of anxiety.
Encopresis affects about 1.5 percent of young school children and can create tremendous anxiety and embarrassment for children and their families.
Encopresis is not a disease but rather a symptom of a complex relationship between the body and psychological/environmental stresses.
Encopresis is really just fecal incontinence in children although adults may also get it.
True encopresis is basically just fecal incontinence where a child poops their pants or soils their pants without really being able to control it.
To test for encopresis the doctor will do a physical exam, which might include a rectal examination (the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum).
The doctor will also ask about the child's history of difficulty with bowel movements.
The most common cause of encopresis is constipation.
When a child is constipated the child's poop is hard, dry and may be painful to pass.
As a result, the child avoids going to the toilet making the problem worse.
The longer the child's poop remains in the colon, the more difficult it is for the child to push the poop out.
Anxiety as well as stress can cause encopresis.
Also forcing potty training can lead to encopresis as well as constipation and other health issues.
Children can develop encopresis if they feel anxious or stressed.
Encopresis is repeated episodes of stool soiling in children who are more than 4 years old.
For a diagnosis of encopresis, stool soiling must occur at least once a month for a minimum of 3 months.
A child can outgrow encopresis and most children do eventually outgrow encopresis although some kids may have encopresis for life or until adulthood.
Children whose encopresis goes unrecognized or untreated may not be able to resolve their symptoms on their own for many years.
In some cases, they may experience problems into adulthood.
Some ways to treat and fix encopresis include.
Emptying the rectum and colon of the hard poop. Depending on the child's age and other things, the doctor may recommend medicines, including a stool softener, laxatives, and/or enemas.
Helping your child begin having regular BMs.
Reducing use of the stool medicines.
If the child cannot keep from soiling their pants or underwear then until the Encopresis has been fixed the child should wear diapers.
Diapers can prevent the child from getting poop running down their legs or in their pants and it can be less embarrassing for the child.
My brother who was 8 at the time had encopresis and his doctor recommended that he wear diapers until the problem was resolved.
So my brother wore some Pampers Diapers which back then were the old style plastic backed pampers.
However a child can wear any type of diapers that they can fit in.
Youth Diapers are also available as well.
Encopresis which is also known as fecal incontinence or soiling, is the repeated passing of stool (usually involuntarily) into clothing.
Typically it happens when impacted stool collects in the colon and rectum: The colon becomes too full and liquid stool leaks around the retained stool, staining underwear.
Chronic neurotic encopresis (CNE), a childhood psychiatric disorder characterized by inappropriate fecal soiling, necessitated the formation of the following specific etiological factors: a) a neurologically immature developmental musculature, an organic condition which may complicate toilet training; b) premature or.
Most cases of encopresis are the result of chronic constipation.
In constipation, the child's stool is hard, dry and may be painful to pass.
As a result, the child avoids going to the toilet making the problem worse.
The longer the stool remains in the colon, the more difficult it is for the child to push stool out.