Dysfunctional Elimination Syndromes—How Closely Linked are Constipation and Encopresis with Specific Lower Urinary Tract Conditions?

Abstract

Active bowel dysfunction was seen in half of the children with a lower urinary tract condition. Constipation was more common in patients with dysfunctional voiding, while encopresis was significantly increased in those with idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder and in those with dysfunctional voiding, severe urgency and detrusor overactivity. Anticholinergics, despite their constipating effect, given for treatment of detrusor overactivity resolved encopresis in most children with this bowel dysfunction.

Sacral nerve stimulation: a promising therapy for fecal and urinary incontinence and constipation in children

“…These symptoms present in myriad combinations with both GI and urinary dysfunction including intractable chronic constipation, urinary retention, and both fecal and urinary incontinence [4].…”

Pediatric Bladder Disorders

“…Adding these new parameters, with only uroflowmetry and EMG (without a cystometric measure), they proposed to recognize four conditions and specific treatments [98] They confirmed such results in larger populations [99][100][101] and demonstrated resolution of VUR if present [100]. They also demonstrated the frequent association of constipation and encopresis with the following frequency according to the subgroups: (1) 49 %; (2) 33 %; (3) 23 %; (4) 19 % [102].…”

Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Elementary School Children: Results of a Cross-Sectional Teacher Survey

“…24,25 However, only a small percent of respondents reported having had experience with bowel incontinence. We theorize that because bowel dysfunction presents as constipation in up to 30% of the pediatric population, it is not as easily recognized in the school setting other than through its manifestation as urinary symptoms 26 .…”