The essential feature is repeated passage of feces into inappropriate places (e.g., clothing or floor). Most often this is involuntary but occasionally may be intentional. The event must occur at least once a month for at least 3 months, and the chronological age of the child must be at least 4 years (or for children with developmental delays, a mental age of at least 4 years).
Faecal incontinence. Inability to hold faeces.
A disorder in which, through faulty control of the sphincters, the person repeatedly defecates in his or her clothing after an age at which continence is expected.
Repeated elimination of feces by a child who is at least four years old in inappropriate places either involuntarily or intentionally.
leakage of stool (often around impaction) not due to organic defect or illness after 4 years of age (chronological or developmental); includes constipation and overflow incontinence (retentive encopresis); can develop initially for a variety of psychological and physiologic reasons
involuntary defecation not attributable to physical defects or illness
Uncontrolled passage of a bowel movement or smears of fecal material into underwear or inappropriate places by an individual over the age of four.
constipation and intestinal obstruction (blockage) lead to an involuntary leakage of loose stool, or encopresis.
accidental passage of a bowel movement.
the involuntary passage of faeces.
involuntary bowel movement
Encopresis is involuntary "fecal soiling" in children who have usually already been toilet trained. Children with encopresis often leak stool into their underwear.
