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Encopresis in children
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Encopresis - this is an arbitrary or involuntary bowel movement in unsuitable places for a child over 4 years old.
Encopresis is the repeated incontinence of stool in children older than 4 years old, who have no organic reasons for this. It occurs in about 3% of 4-year-olds and 1% of 5-year-olds. Stool retention and incontinence due to overflow of the rectum due to chronic constipation are the most common cause; the probability of encopresis is highest during the period of the child's training to the toilet or his admission to school. At the same time occasionally encopresis develops without delay of feces or constipation.
In most cases, the reasons are obvious from the history and physical examination data; in their absence, the survey, as a rule, is not shown.
[Treating encopresis
Initially, treatment includes an explanation for the parents and the child of the physiology of encopresis, removing the blame from the child.
If anamnesis and physical examination have excluded specific causes, the intestine should be emptied using a laxative, such as magnesium hydroxide or polyethylene glycol. Maintaining motor activity is most often achieved with the help of diet, environment and behavior correction (modification of habits during bowel movement). It should provide the child with rough food, rich in dietary fiber, but do not force the child to eat it.