Encopresis Symptoms

The main symptom of encopresis is that the child has bowel movements in inappropriate places, such as in clothing or on the floor.

This soiling is not caused by taking laxatives or other medications, and is not due to a disability or physical defect in the bowel.

Other symptoms of encopresis may include:

• Avoidance of bowel movements
• Secretive behavior associated with bowel movements.
• Leakage of stool or liquid stool on your child's underwear. If the amount of leakage is large, you may misinterpret it as diarrhea.
• Scratching or rubbing the anal area due to irritation from watery stools
• Constipation with dry, hard stool
• Passage of large stool that clogs or almost clogs the toilet
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Decreased interest in physical activity
• Withdrawal from friends and family

continue to general encopresis treatment

back to retentive encopresis or non-retentive encopresis definitions