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Encopresis and soiling
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 52242-1083, USA.
Insights
Pediatric constipation, encopresis, and fecal incontinence are common. This review covers their symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, offering insights into managing these conditions in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Child Health
- Digestive Disorders
Background:
- Constipation, encopresis, and fecal incontinence are prevalent issues in pediatric populations.
- Causes range from organic and anatomical factors to medication side effects.
- Definitions differentiate encopresis (functional constipation in young children) from fecal incontinence (associated with organic lesions).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical presentation of functional constipation in young children.
- To outline the symptoms of functional constipation and encopresis in older children.
- To discuss the differential diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of pediatric constipation with or without fecal incontinence.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pediatric constipation, encopresis, and fecal incontinence.
- Analysis of diagnostic criteria and symptom presentation.
- Synthesis of current treatment approaches and outcome reporting.
Main Results:
- Functional constipation presents differently in younger versus older children.
- Encopresis is linked to functional constipation, while fecal incontinence suggests underlying organic causes.
- Comprehensive evaluation is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis differentiating functional constipation from organic causes is essential.
- Tailored treatment strategies are necessary for successful outcomes in pediatric patients.
- Understanding the nuances of these conditions improves patient care and management.
Abstract:
Constipation, encopresis, and fecal incontinence are common problems in children. Constipation can have a variety of causes, such as organic and anatomic causes or intake of medication. Encopresis is the involuntary loss of formed, semiformed, or liquid stool into the child's underwear in the presence of functional (idiopathic) constipation in a child 4 years of age or younger. Fecal incontinence is fecal soiling in the presence of an organic or anatomic lesion, such as Hirschsprung's disease, anal malformation, anal surgery or trauma, meningomyelocele, and some muscle disease. This article reviews the symptoms of functional constipation in young children and the symptoms of functional constipation and encopresis in older children, presents the differential diagnosis of constipation with or without fecal incontinence, describes the evaluation and treatment of these children, and reports on treatment outcome.