Causes of Non-Retentive Encopresis

On the other hand, non-retentive encopresis is a behavioral condition in which the child refuses to poop in a potty or toilet.

Children with this condition aren't constipated and don't seem to have any medical problems. They usually soil their diapers or pants almost every day and have normal bowel movements.

Various terms have been used to describe this problem, including functional encopresis, primary non-retentive encopresis, and stool toileting refusal.

Characteristics include soiling accompanied by daily bowel movements that are normal in size and consistency.
A physiological cause for non-retentive encopresis is rarely identified. The medical assessment is usually normal, and signs of constipation are noticeably absent.

• However, a minute percentage of cases that seem to be non-retentive encopresis do have medical causes, such as:
• irritable bowel syndrome
• severe ulcerative colitis
• acquired spinal cord disease (i.e. sacral lipoma, spinal cord tumor)
• rectoperineal fistula with imperforate anus
• postsurgical damage to anal sphincter 

• The child may not be developmentally ready for potty training
• The child may have emotional or behavioral disturbances such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder, or may simply be trying to control their environment in one of the the only ways they can
• The child is afraid. The child will urinate in the potty or toilet, but will refuse to poop in the potty or the toilet.
• Some children will also refuse to poop in the underwear and will only poop in a pull up or diaper.
• Other children will simply refuse to poop at all and end up with chronic constipation.

continue to treatment for non-retentive encopresis

back to retentive encopresis or non-retentive encopresis definitions

back to encopresis symptoms