• Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Upcoming Events
  • Advertise With Us
  • Become a Sponsor
  • Get Involved
  • Login
Logo Image

Encopresis

  • View
  • //Comment out the comments box

BRIEF SUMMARY

This page is currently under construction.  If you have content or resources to contribute, you may share via the “Contact Topic Manager” box below.

Encopresis, also called fecal incontinence or soiling, occurs when constipation causes impacted stool to fill the colon, and liquid stool leaks out. It can also be caused by the inability to control the anal sphincter muscle or gastrointestinal problems, particularly chronic diarrhea and Crohn’s disease. Several neurological disorders, including Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, are also occasionally associated with the symptom of encopresis, particularly in children. Far less frequently, encopresis occurs without constipation and may be the result of emotional issues. Preventive care for encopresis includes frequent scheduled toileting and the wearing of pads or diapers to prevent embarrassing soiling. Careful cleaning is important to prevent skin breakdown. Treatment of encopresis usually involves treatment of the underlying disorder; cognitive behavioral therapy or behavior modification is also sometimes helpful. Encopresis is one form of an elimination disorder in children. Encopresis usually occurs after age 4, when the child has already learned to use a toilet. Encopresis can be frustrating for parents — and embarrassing for the child.  Social stigma and difficulty with peers may be an issue for encopretic children. However, with patience and positive reinforcement, treatment for encopresis is usually successful.

KEY POINTS

  • Encopresis has been defined as “the repetitive, voluntary or involuntary, passage of stool in inappropriate places by children 4 years of age and older, at which time a child may be reasonably expected to have completed toilet training and to exercise bowel control.”
  • Most studies indicate approximately 4% of all children 4-17 years of age will experience encopresis.
  • Most children with encopresis have underlying constipation.
  • Some children with encopresis may successfully stool every day, however, evacuation of their bowel is incomplete.
  • Encopretic children commonly “defecate in places inappropriate to the social context at least once a month” (for example, the classroom).
  • Children with encopresis may seem oblivious or nonchalant to either obvious stool staining of their clothes or the heavy stool odor they produce.
  • There is generally no underlying organic medical condition that explains the child’s encopretic pattern.
  • Emotional stress may trigger encopresis. A child may experience stress from:
    • Premature, difficult or conflict-filled toilet training
    • Changes in the child’s life, such as dietary changes, toilet training, starting school or schedule changes
    • Emotional stressors, for example, the divorce of a parent or the birth of a sibling.
  • Encopresis is more common in boys. These risk factors may increase the chances of having encopresis:
    • Using medications that may cause constipation, such as cough suppressants
    • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
    • Autism spectrum disorder
    • Anxiety or depression
  • A child who has encopresis may experience a range of emotions, including embarrassment, frustration, shame and anger. If the child is teased by friends or criticized or punished by adults, he or she may feel depressed or have low self-esteem.
  • A child with encopresis often feels ashamed and may wish to avoid situations (such as camp or school) that might lead to embarrassment. The amount of impairment is a function of the effect on the child’s self-esteem, the degree of social ostracism by peers, and the anger, punishment, and rejection on the part of caregivers.
  • Generally, the earlier that treatment begins for encopresis, the better. The first step involves clearing the colon of retained, impacted stool. After that, treatment focuses on encouraging healthy bowel movements. In some cases, psychotherapy may be a helpful addition to treatment.

SHARED WISDOM

  • BM issues reponses from Counselor Talk, February 2018
  • What I have learned

RESOURCES

  • Medical Definition of Encopresis

  • Encopresis- Symptoms and Causes (Mayo Clinic)

  • Overview of Encopresis (WebMD)

  • Encopresis (Psychology Today)

CONTACT TOPIC MANAGER

This is a ‘do it ourselves’ web site. So if you would like to help, or have information or resources to share, please contact us today.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


Emotional DisordersEnd of Course Assessment (ECAs)
  • Mary on June 5, 2018 @ 17:13:31
  • Kelly on February 22, 2018 @ 18:07:49
  • Heather on August 7, 2016 @ 19:46:33

This post was created by EFGH ContentManager on August 7, 2016.

  
POWERED BY INSPIRE SUCCESS
BECOME A SPONSOR

Follow us

  • facebook
  • twitter

Counselor1Stop Follow

Counselor1Stop is an A to Z compendium of resources for and by K-12 school counselors. The website is one place with quick answers and easy access to resources!

Counselor1S
counselor1s Counselor1Stop @counselor1s ·
3 Sep

This week's EW4SC episode is sponsored by @KuderSupport -support the podcast by visiting https://www.kuder.com/inspire
Elizabeth Moore shares how a career assessment helped change a family dynamic. Listen at https://inspiresuccess.org/podcast or on your favorite podcast app!

Reply on Twitter 1433855776968294402 Retweet on Twitter 1433855776968294402 Like on Twitter 1433855776968294402 1 Twitter 1433855776968294402
Retweet on Twitter Counselor1Stop Retweeted
amandaculhan Amanda Culhan @amandaculhan ·
31 Aug

Calling all Indiana School Counselors & Social Workers! Who's ready to connect & network this fall? Visit COUNSELOR CONNECTions to find a session near you! https://keepindianalearning.org/events/counselor-connections/

Reply on Twitter 1432749227365576706 Retweet on Twitter 1432749227365576706 3 Like on Twitter 1432749227365576706 5 Twitter 1432749227365576706
counselor1s Counselor1Stop @counselor1s ·
6 Jul

This week's EW4SC throwback episode features Allen Hill, @ISCA_IN Executive Director & @JRPLeadership school counselor! Want to share your story? Visit the EW4SC sound booth at #2021ASCA Attending virtually? Visit the EW4SC virtual sound booth http://podcast.inspiresuccess.org/soundbooth

Reply on Twitter 1412446792814317569 Retweet on Twitter 1412446792814317569 Like on Twitter 1412446792814317569 2 Twitter 1412446792814317569
Load More...