What Is Children Encopresis ?
Encopresis refers to an inability of the person to control their feces and passes them anywhere and everywhere. They cannot wait to get to the toilets and they pass enroute or wherever they are. This is a medical as well as a psychological problem. Sometimes it gets coupled with enuresis which is not passing urine in the designated area. The child and the older people are the victims of this.
This problem is noticed in children from the age of five. It could occur below this age too, but it’s very difficult to identify whether it’s the inadequacy in toilet training or Encopresis. In children it could be decided as encopresis only if the child always passes feces in non-designated areas and not accidents which are bound to happen with children.
Encopresis Causes
Inadequate toilet training: If the child is not adequately toilet trained then they wouldn’t be able to control in public.- Psychological factors and behavioral issues: Some times children just burst out to gain attention. At times, they feel shy saying that they want to use the toilets and burst open in the pool or bath or at other places. Sometimes young and old have severe anxiety about using the public toilets or the process of defecating itself may seem very traumatic and they would defecate unintentionally wherever they are. This is because they would have held up the urge to empty their bowel for a long time and wouldn’t have been able to control any longer.
- Damages to the internal organs, therefore unable to feel or hold feces: This is medical Encopresis. It affects all the age groups. There could be several reasons for this. One of them could damage to the nerve that connects the colon and lower large intestine. It calls for immediate medical attention it could lead to chronic constipation and a great damage to the lower digestive tract.
Medical Encopresis occurs due to severe diarrhoea or chronic constipation. Symptoms of chronic constipation or diarrhoea are
- Tummy ache
- Lack of appetite and vomiting sensation
- Weight gain
- Dehydration
It should be treated immediately otherwise it may lead to chronic elimination problems.