encopresis

Soiling

What Is Soiling?

This is when a child passes faeces, deliberately or not deliberately, in places that are not appropriate (i.e. not the toilet), at an age when they should be able to control themselves.

Soiling can be very distressing for both the child and the parents because often there does not seem to be any good reason. The experts call soiling - encopresis.

How Common Is Soiling?

Roughly 1 in 17 three year olds, and 1 in 66 seven year olds soil themselves at least once per week.

Boys are 3 to 4 times more likely to suffer from soiling than girls.

What Causes Soiling?

Wetting can occur as a result of a medical problem. For example, a child may be constipated (blocked up) or have a problem with their insides (called the gastrointestinal tract).

Other causes include:

Recent stresses or worries (possibly bullying, or a death in the family).
If it runs in the family.
A lack of attention from parents.
A poor relationship with the parents.
Anger.
Other mental health problems, particularly emotional ones.

Some soiling can occur from birth onwards, this is called primary encopresis. Wetting that occurs after a child has already got control of their bladder is called secondary encopresis. Obviously, it is more likely that there is a physical problem if the child has never gained control of their bowls, although don't take this as being always the case.

Can It be Treated?

Yes.

Simple measures such as making sure that the child doesn't eat too much before going to bed should be tried first.

If the simple measures don't work, then a doctor or specialist may recommend some simple techniques that are derived from behavioural therapy. These are things like setting up a chart where the child is rewarded with a gold star for every day/night they go without soiling.

More serious cases, often these are combined with a set of other problems, may require more intensive forms of therapy such as family therapy, or psychodynamic therapy.

A doctor may well prescribe a medicine for constipation (called a microenema, smooth muscle stimulant, stool softener) in the short term. But this is often not enough on its own, particularly if there is an emotional problem.

Nearly all cases of soiling are sorted out by the time the child grows up to reach adolescence (roughly speaking - becomes a teenager).

We are creating a SimplePsych factsheet on Soiling which goes into more detail while still using easy to understand English. If you would be interested at this service being offered to you please let us know by emailing us Click Here

Thank you.

* RECOMMENDED BOOKS *

If you are interested in going into even more depth, the following book(s), sold by Amazon.co.uk, are recommended by us. Each is followed by a rating for ease of reading (1-3).

1=Simple and Easy to comprehend.
2=More Complex but still a good read.
3=Very Complex, only for professionals/those studying to degree level.

Childhood Encopresis & Enuresis: Causes & Therapy (Schaefer)

RATING SCORE = 3 A comprehensive textbook for students and professionals.

Clouds & Clocks: A Story For Children Who Soil (Galvin)

RATING SCORE = 1 A childrens book that gives parents a way to approach this difficult subject with their children. Probably only really useful for children under the age of 6.

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