Encopresis

Encopresis is also known as paradoxical diarrhea, is voluntary or involuntary fecal soiling in children who have usually already been toilet trained. Persons with encopresis often leak stool into their undergarments. This term is usually applied to children, and where the symptom is present in adults, it is more commonly known as fecal leakage (FL), fecal soiling or fecal seepage. Encopresis is the soiling of the underwear with stool by children who are past the age of toilet training. Because each child achieves bowel control at his or her own pace, medical professionals do not consider stool soiling to be a medical condition unless the child is at least 4 years of age.

This stool or fecal soiling usually has a physical origin and is involuntary, the child does not soil on purpose. In the majority of cases, the soiling is the result of loose or soft stool leaking around more formed stool trapped inside the colon. Doctors categorize encopresis as primary or secondary. Primary encopresis happens in a child who has never been successfully toilet trained. In secondary encopresis, a child develops the condition after having been successfully toilet trained. Encopresis can be frustrating for you and embarrassing for your child. Patience and positive reinforcement can successfully treat encopresis. The signs and symptoms of encopresis may include: Leakage of liquid stool on your child's underwear. If it is large, you may think it as diarrhoea. Constipation with dry, hard stool. Passage of large stool that clogs or almost clogs the toilet. Avoidance of bowel movements. Long periods of time between bowel movements, possibly as long as a week. Lack of appetite. Abdominal pain. Repeated urinary tract infections.

The first epidemiological study conducted in four Brazilian regions to investigate the prevalence of different types of psychiatric disorders among schoolchildren. Further studies are necessary to confirm or refute the differences observed by region. Because Brazil is a large and heterogeneous country in terms of socioeconomic status and availability of resources, local contexts must be examined to better capture differences in children’s mental health needs. Advanced Treatment Methods: The first and the common therapy done will be medical therapy. Conventional medical therapy proves successful in approximately one half of children with chronic constipation and encopresis. Many pediatricians will suggest the common approach to the treatment of encopresis associated with constipation: cleaning out using stool softening agents scheduled sitting times, typically after meals.