Encopresis, soiling, constipation: What's to be done?

[摘要] Though a frequent problem with a tremendous negative impact on the family as well as the child, fecal incontinence has received little attention in the pediatric literature. Levine's study of the natural history of children with encopresis in this issue of Pediatrics is, therefore, a welcome contribution. Encopresis is defined as incontinence of feces not due to organic defect or illness. Mercer preferred to define encopresis as the voluntary or involuntary passage of an ordinary bowel movement into the clothing, and soiling as the constant involuntary seepage of feces associated with impaction. He reported that the former was rare in his experience.

[学科分类] 儿科学