aetiological factors and types of encopresis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Possible causes include:-
- bowel control has never been established, which may occur in a disorganised family or an understaffed institution, or in children with mental retardation.
- emotional causes, classified as:-
- regressive soiling, which can be viewed as a return to an earlier stage of development, may be because the child has experienced an upsetting family event for example illness of a parent or birth of a sibling
- aggressive soiling which occurs in situations where there might be a poor relationship between the child and a sibling. The soiling may be a rebellious act.
- physical causes, including:-
- faecal impaction
- Hirschprung's disease etc.