management

Last reviewed 01/2018

The first stage of management is a thorough assessment of the possible cause.

Treatment is dependent on cause. If there is faecal retention with soiling then the bowel should be cleared. A child who has not received adequate toilet training should be given this in hospital.

A child with regressive emotional encopresis may require help with the causative emotional problems.

Aggressive emotional soiling is a condition that needs to be explained to the parents of the child - it may represent a form of protest in a child who is unable to express feelings in other ways.