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Encopresis in children
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Encopresis is the voluntary or involuntary defecation in inappropriate places in a child over 4 years of age.
Encopresis is recurrent fecal incontinence in children over 4 years of age who have no organic cause. It occurs in about 3% of 4-year-olds and 1% of 5-year-olds. Fecal retention and overflow incontinence due to chronic constipation are the most common causes; encopresis is most likely to occur during toilet training or school entry. Rarely, however, encopresis occurs without fecal retention or constipation.
In most cases, the causes are obvious from the history and physical examination; in their absence, testing is usually not indicated.
[ Treatment of encopresis
Initial treatment involves explaining to parents and child the physiology of encopresis, removing blame from the child.
If history and physical examination exclude specific causes, bowel movements should be initiated using a laxative such as magnesium hydroxide or polyethylene glycol. Maintenance of motility is most often achieved through dietary, environmental, and behavioral modification (modification of bowel habits). Roughage rich in dietary fiber should be provided, but the child should not be forced to eat it.