Many school age children soil late in the afternoon after returning home from school. Soiling episodes occur during the daytime when the child is awake and active. Stool can be palpated throughout the distribution of the colon, most notably in the left lower. Encopresis can lead to many problems. Mega colon : When the colon gets bigger and bigger. This hurts the colon's muscles and nerves. Then they can't signal it's time for a bowel movement. When the skin around the rectum cracks and bleeds. Fissures hurt. Bladder Infection : The big colon can press on your child's bladder. It can keep the bladder from emptying. When urine stays in the bladder, it can cause an infection. It can also cause wetting accidents. In many children with encopresis, the colon has become stretched out of shape, so they may intermittently pass extremely large bowel movements. The medical assessment is usually normal, and signs of constipation are noticeably absent. Laxatives make it easier to have a bowel movement. They make the feces softer. They help your child have a regular BM. Use an enema or suppository if necessary. Your nurse will show you how to use an enema or suppository. Using an enema or suppository cleans out the colon and rectum. Biofeedback technique has been used successfully to teach some children how to?best use their abdominal, pelvic and anal sphincter muscles, which they have so often used to retain stool.

Causes of Encopresis

Common causes and risk factors of Encopresis

Constipation

Anatomic abnormality.

Physiological factors

Neurological disorders.

Surgery.

Signs and Symptoms of Encopresis

Common sign and symptoms of Encopresis

Mega colon.

Fissures.

Bladder Infection.

Soiling episodes usually occur during the day.

Colon has become stretched out of shape.

No urge to pass a bowel movement before they soil their underwear.

Treatment of Encopresis

Common Treatment of Encopresis

Full developmental and behavioral assessment should be made to establish that the child is ready for intervention to correct encopresis and to identify any barriers to success, particularly disruptive behavior problems.

Successful interventions depend on the presence of soft, comfortable bowel movements and addressing toilet refusal behavior.

Daily scheduled positive toilet sits are recommended.

Incentives may be used to reinforce successful defecation during these sits.

Use laxatives. Laxatives make it easier to have a bowel movement. They make the feces softer. They help your child have a regular BM. .

To restore normal physiological control over bowel function; and

Defuse conflicts and reduce concerns within the family brought on by the child's symptoms.