Encopresis
Encopresis occurs when a child is resistant to defecation, causing stool to accumulate in the colon and colon. As the baby's colon fills with stool, liquid stool oozes around it and comes out of the anus and onto the baby's underwear.
Encopresis mainly develops after 4 years, when the child has already learned to walk on the toilet. In most cases, encopresis is a symptom of chronic constipation In rare cases, the condition is caused by emotional or developmental problems
Doctors divide encopresis into primary and secondary categories Primary encopresis develops in children who have not learned to use the toilet independently In secondary encopresis, the child develops the disease after learning to use the toilet independently.
Encopresis creates discomfort for the child However, patience and treatment usually end in success
There are several causes of encopresis:
- Constipation Encopresis is usually the result of chronic constipation During constipation, the child's stool is hard, dry, and its passage can be painful As a result, the child tries to avoid defecation The longer the stool stays in the large intestine, the more difficult it is for the child to pass it The colon stretches, pressing on the nerves and signaling that it's time to use the toilet Soft or liquid stool may leak from the anus after the colon has been emptied
A frequent cause of constipation is the retention of stool due to fear of defecation (especially outside the home). Constipation also develops when the child does not want to stop playing, takes a small amount of food or drink Sometimes, an allergy to cow's milk or consuming large amounts of cow's milk causes constipation However, cow's milk causes diarrhea more often - Emotional problems Emotional stress sometimes causes encopresis Stress can be caused by premature toilet training or major life changes, such as the divorce of parents and the birth of a sibling.
Symptoms of encopresis:
- Leakage of feces or loose stools in the child's underwear. If the amount of leaked stool is large, the parent may mistake the condition for diarrhea
- Constipation with dry, hardened stools
- Passing large stools that almost clog the toilet
- Avoidance of defecation
- Long pauses between defecation, sometimes even a week
- Ingratitude,
- pain in the abdomen
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
When to see a doctor See a doctor if your child has already learned to use the toilet independently and has any of the symptoms mentioned
