Mental Disorders Diagnosed in Childhood - Elimination Disorders - Etiology

Etiology

Encopresis: The most common cause of Encopresis is constipation. When a child becomes constipated, feces build up in and stretch the rectum. This stretching causes the nerve endings to become dull. The child may not feel when he or she needs to eliminate the feces or if the waste is coming out. Inside the rectum, the feces could become too large or solid to eliminate without feeling pain. While the mass of feces is stuck in the child's rectum, liquid feces could leak from around the mass and out of the child's body. The main causes of constipation are diet, lack of sufficient amounts of water, stress, not enough exercise, and inconsistent bathroom routines.

Enuresis: The cause of Enuresis is thought to be unclear and usually is attributed to many factors.

• • Genetic- there is a genetic component within Enuresis and it tends to run in families.
  • Inability to feel that the bladder is full and be aroused from sleep.
  • Insufficient size of bladder- the child's bladder is too small to contain the amount of urine produced.
  • Psychological Factors- these are not main factors that contribute to Enuresis, but stress may be a cause.
  • Maturational Delay- the child's recognition that the bladder is full and he or she needs to go to the bathroom is a developmental issue. Many children with Enuresis will develop this skill as they grow older.