Mental disorders diagnosed in children are divided into two categories: Childhood Disorder and Learning Disorder. These disorders are usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or adolescence. These categories includes disorders like Mental Retardation, Learning Disorders, Motor Skills Disorders, Communication Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Disorders, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Elimination Disorders and many more disorders of infancy, childhood or adolescence.
In this article we are going to discuss about Elimination Disorders in Kids.
Elimination Disorders occur in children who have problems of going to bathroom, both defecating and urinating. Although it is not uncommon for young children to have occasionally; there may be problem if this behaviour occurs repeatedly for longer period, longer than three months, particularly in children older than 5 years. There are two types of elimination disorders in kids, Encopresis and Enuresis.
We are going to talk about causes, symptoms and treatment of Encopresis in this article.
Encopresis is also known as fecal soiling. It occurs when a child usually over the age of 4, has bowel movements and soils their pants. This behaviour is often linked to constipation. Constipation occurs when stool becomes backed up in the intestine. Treating constipation is fairly easy and will typically eliminate soiling. This leakage may occur during the day or night and it is not under conscious control of the child. It is three to six times more common in boys. Encopresis is not a disease, but rather a symptom that may have different causes. Many people mistakenly believe that Encopresis is a behavioural issue- a simple hack of self control. But punishing and humiliating a child with Encopresis will only make matter worse. A child with Encopresis often feels ashamed and may wish to avoid situations (such as camps or schools) that might lead to embarrassment. This may also effects on child’s self-esteem. On the part of care giver, you should avoid anger, punishment and rejection.
Symptoms of Encopresis:
Causes of Encopresis:
Fecal matter can become hard and difficult to pass if your child doesn’t get enough fiber, water or exercise, or if they hold in bowel movements to be painful. Then, liquid fecal matter or a soft bowel movement can leak into a child’s underpants. This is known as soiling; sometimes child cannot consciously control soiling.
In some cases, the intestines may become so enlarged from fecal blockage that your child loses the sensation of needing to poop. This problem may also begin because of controllable situations, such as fear of using public toilets or not wanting to be toilet trained, but it becomes involuntary over time.
Most of the children suffering from Encopresis, the problem begins with painful passing very large stool. This may have happened long before the Encopresis starts and the child may not remember when asked. Overtime, the child becomes reluctant to pass bowel movements and holds it in to avoid the pain. This “holding in” becomes a habit that often remains long after the constipation or pain with passing bowel movements has resolved. Encopresis mainly causes from, constipation and emotional issues.
Most of the Encopresis are the results of chronic constipation. In constipation, the child’s stool is hard, dry and may be painful to pass. As a result, the child avoids going to toilet- making the problem worse.
The longer stool remains in the colon, the more difficult it is for the child to push stool out. The colon stretches, ultimately affecting the nerves that signal when it’s time to go to the toilet. When the colon becomes too full, soft or liquid stool may leak out around the retained stool or loss of control over bowel movements may occur.
Some causes of constipation include:
Emotional Issues: Emotional stress may trigger Encopresis. A child may experience stress from:
Treatment of Encopresis:
When Encopresis is occurring in school age child, a physician experienced in Encopresis treatment and interested in working with the child and the family should be involved.
The treatment goals will be probably be fourfold:
It is very important that you develop a routine and stick to it. Long term success depends on how well you can follow the care plan. This treatment will take many months of hard work for you and your child.
Although parents will be following a regime recommended by the child’s health care provider, most of the work treating Encopresis is done at home. It is very important that parents and other caregivers keep a complete record of child’s medications. Use and bowel movements, during the treatment period. This record can be very helpful in determining whether the treatment is working.
If you seeking any help for your child, you may freely consult our Child Psychologist or Child Counselor online by booking an appointment at www.myfitbrain.in.
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