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Encopresis is a problem that children can develop due to chronic constipation. With constipation, children have fewer bowel movements than normal, and the bowel movements they do have can be hard, dry and difficult to pass. Once a child becomes constipated, a vicious cycle can develop.
The child may avoid using the bathroom to avoid discomfort. Stool can become impacted and unable to move forward. The rectum and intestine become enlarged due to the hard, impacted (backed up) stool. Eventually, the rectum and intestine have problems sensing the presence of stool, and the anal sphincter (the muscle at the end of the digestive tract that helps hold stool in) loses its strength. Liquid stool can start to leak around the hard, dry, impacted stool, soiling a child's clothing.
For unknown reasons, boys develop encopresis six times more than girls do. Any child with chronic constipation may develop encopresis. Some of the situations that lead to constipation include:
Encopresis can cause both physical and emotional problems. Impacted stool in the intestine can cause abdominal pain, as well as loss of appetite. Some children develop bladder infections. Other health problems may cause chronic constipation, including diabetes, hypothyroidism, Hirschsprung disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
The following are the most common symptoms of encopresis. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
A physician or healthcare provider will examine your child, and obtain a medical history. Imaging tests may also be done to evaluate the intestine and rule out other health problems.
These tests may include:
Specific treatment for encopresis will be determined by your child's physician based on the following:
Treatment for encopresis may include:
If these methods do not help, or if your physician notices other problems, they may recommend laxatives, stool softeners or an enema. These products should only be used with the recommendation of your child's physician. Do not use them without consulting your child's physician first.
Until the intestine and rectum regain their muscle tone, children may still have "accidents" and soil their underwear on occasion. Pre-school children may be able to wear a disposable training pant until they regain bowel control. Taking a change of underwear and/or pants to school can help minimize your child's embarrassment and improve their self-esteem as bowel control improves.
If you’d like to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®).