- Problems With Soiling and Bowel
Control
By The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- No. 48; Updated November 2004
Most children can control their
bowels and are toilet trained by the time they are four years
of age. Problems controlling bowel movements can cause soiling
which leads to frustration and anger on part of the child, parents,
teachers and other people important in the child's life. In
addition, social difficulties with this problem can be severe
-- the child is often made fun of by friends and avoided by adults.
These problems can cause children to feel badly about themselves.
|
Some of the reasons for soiling
are:
* problems during toilet
training,
* physical disabilities, which make it hard for the child
to clean him/herself,
* physical condition, for example chronic constipation, Hirschprung's
Disease,
* family or emotional problems.
Soiling which is not caused by
a physical illness or disability is called encopresis. Children
with encopresis may have other problems, such as short attention
span, low frustration tolerance, hyperactivity and poor coordination.
Occasionally, this problem with soiling starts with a stressful
change in the child's life, such as the birth of a sibling, separation/divorce
of parents, family problems, or a move to a new home or school.
Encopresis is more common in boys than in girls. |
|
Although most children with soiling
do not have a physical condition, they should have a complete
physical evaluation by a family physician or pediatrician. If
no physical causes are found, or if problems continue, the next
step is an evaluation by a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
The child and adolescent psychiatrist will review the results
of the physical evaluation and then decide whether emotional
problems are contributing to the encopresis.
Encopresis can be treated with
a combination of educational, psychological and behavioral methods.
Most children with encopresis can be helped, but progress can
be slow and extended treatment may be necessary. Early treatment
of a soiling or bowel control problem can help prevent and reduce
social and emotional suffering and pain for the child and family.
For additional information see
Facts for Families:
#18 Bedwetting
#52 Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
#72 Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder
#82 Starting School
#86 Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents
See Also: Your Child (1998 Harper Collins) / Your Adolescent
(1999 Harper Collins).
Copyright © 1997 by the
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry |
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