Aetiological factors and types of encopresis

Possible causes include:-

• bowel control has never been established, which may occur in a disorganised family or an understaffed institution, or in children with mental retardation.
• emotional causes, classified as:-
  • regressive soiling, which can be viewed as a return to an earlier stage of development, may be because the child has experienced an upsetting family event for example illness of a parent or birth of a sibling
  • aggressive soiling which occurs in situations where there might be a poor relationship between the child and a sibling. The soiling may be a rebellious act.
• physical causes, including:-
  • faecal impaction
  • Hirschprung's disease etc.