Fecal overflow often affects children with chronic constipation that appears after the age of 2 years

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Child Health
• Digestive Disorders

Background:

• Chronic functional constipation is prevalent in children, often with underestimated encopresis (overflow incontinence).
• Understanding the prevalence and risk factors for encopresis is crucial for effective pediatric management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of overflow incontinence in pediatric patients with chronic constipation.
• To identify risk factors associated with the development of encopresis in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 270 pediatric patient files (1997-2012) at a pediatric gastroenterology consultation.
• Classification of constipation according to Rome III criteria.
• Statistical analysis to identify associations between clinical factors and encopresis.

Main Results:

• Overflow incontinence (encopresis) was present in 43.3% of the studied pediatric patients with chronic constipation.
• Risk factors for encopresis included onset of constipation after age 2, longer disease duration, male gender, and a history of stool retention.
• Stool retention and palpable scybala were associated with encopresis, while pain or anal fissures were not significant factors.

Conclusions:

• Encopresis is a common complication of pediatric chronic functional constipation, affecting nearly half of cases.
• Early identification of risk factors like male gender and stool retention is vital for timely intervention.
• Further research into the long-term outcomes and management strategies for pediatric encopresis is warranted.