Potty training your little ones can be a headache for many parents. In some cases, the age is so advanced that frustration increases and you don't know until when it will occur. You probably don't know what childhood encopresis is. We are talking about a disorder that affects the little ones they do not control their sphincter. If you think your child may be experiencing this, stay on this article and we will tell you what it consists of.
What is childhood encopresis?
Also known as fecal incontinence or involuntary evacuation, It is a disorder that occurs in children over 4 years old, affecting around 1.5% of school-age childrenIt is characterized by the repeated emission of feces in inappropriate places, such as underwear, the bed or the floor.
At this age, children have already learned to go to the bathroom, so it is a product of emotional symptoms and occurs without constipation. It does not represent a serious problem in the child but it is often the cause of frustration on the part of the parents and embarrassment on the part of the minor.
What are the causes of childhood encopresis?
As parents, it is not easy to see your child in this situation, especially if you do not know where the problem comes from or what could have happened. These are some of the most common causes that generate this disorder.
- Biological causes. Gastrointestinal problems, such as functional constipation, account for 90% of cases of childhood encopresis. Neurological disorders affecting bowel control, fecal retention, and celiac disease can also be found.
- Psychological causes. We tend to think that mental health problems only affect adults, but that is not the case. We should never rule out the possibility that a child may have psychological problems, some of the most common are: specific phobias, ADHD, generalized anxiety…
- Social/family causes. In this section we can find events that have occurred in the child's family or social environment and have generated a situation of uncontrollable stress. The parents' divorce, a move or a change of school are some of the causes that can lead the child to suffer from it.
In many cases, childhood encopresis is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Types of encopresis according to their causes
Retentive encopresis (with constipation)
In infantile retentive encopresis, the child retains feces in the rectum for long periods of time, up to two weeks. This causes a build-up of liquid stools that eventually filter through the solid stools and cause inappropriate bowel movements. As fecal retention continues, the stools become increasingly hard and dry, which can cause pain to the child during defecation.
Non-retentive encopresis (without constipation)
In this type there is no prolonged retention of stool and no overflow occurs. Therefore, The child's bowel movements are normal and there is no accumulation of feces in the rectum. However, the child may have little or no awareness of the need to defecatewhich can lead to involuntary bowel movements in inappropriate places.
In addition to these two types, we can find another classification: primary and secondaryIn this case, we can distinguish whether the child has previously developed this disorder, but some factor has caused him to lose this ability or, on the contrary, he is unable to control his stools even reaching the age at which he should control the sphincter.
Tips for parents
If your child is going through this and you don't know how to act, we offer you some tips that may help you:
- Create a relaxing atmosphere in the bathroom. Your child may feel afraid every time he has to go to the bathroom, so it is very important to help reduce his stress and anxiety associated with defecation. Do not overwhelm him and accompany him in a relaxing environment.
- Reduce your child's feelings of shame. She is aware that what is happening is not right, but she does not know how to fix it. She talks to him openly and in a way that externalizes the difficulties in going to the bathroom.
- Establish a bathing routine. Make sure your child has easy and constant access to the bathroom, this can help prevent accidents and reduce stress.
- Promotes a healthy diet. As we have already mentioned, encopresis in children is mostly caused by constipation. A diet rich in fiber and fluids can help prevent constipation and facilitate bowel movements.
- Avoid punishments. He doesn't have control of his sphincter and therefore you don't have to scold him or punish him. Blaming him for this will increase the stress and anxiety associated with defecation.
- Be understanding and patient. This is a frustrating disorder, both for you as parents and for the child who is suffering from it. It is important to be understanding and patient during the treatment process and not expect immediate results. Do not despair, with time it will resolve.
- Seek professional help. Identifying the underlying cause of the disorder is the first step in determining what steps to take next. Psychological treatment is a suitable option. In therapy, parents and child can discuss what happened and take steps to end it.
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