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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Signs and symptoms of encopresis may include:

  • Leakage of stool or liquid stool on your child's underwear. If the amount of leakage is large, you may misinterpret it as diarrhea.
  • Constipation with dry, hard stool.
  • Passage of large stool that clogs or almost clogs the toilet.
  • Avoidance of bowel movements.
  • Long periods of time between bowel movements, possibly as long as a week.
  • Lack of appetite.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Repeated urinary tract infections.

When to see a doctor
Call your doctor if your child, who is older than age 4 and already toilet trained, begins exhibiting one or more of the symptoms listed above.

Causes Definition

  • See Also

    • Hand Scheduled
    Section Focus
  • Symptom Checker

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    Parent
References
  1. Ferry GD. Definition, clinical manifestations, and evaluation of functional fecal incontinence in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
  2. Soiling (encopresis). American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/pages/Soiling-Encopresis.aspx. Accessed Oct. 6, 2010.
  3. Har AF, et al. Encopresis. Pediatrics in Review. 2010;31:368.
  4. Ferry GD. Treatment of chronic functional constipation and fecal incontinence in infants and children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2010.
  5. Montgomery DF, et al. Management of constipation and encopresis in children. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. 2008;22:199.
  6. Nijman RJ. Diagnosis and management of urinary incontinence and functional fecal incontinence (encopresis) in children. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 2008;37:731.
  7. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 7, 2010.
DS00885 Jan. 4, 2011

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