Other Therapy

Fiber supplements and certain foods, such as fruit juices and prunes, can have a laxative effect. These foods and juices function as osmotic laxatives. They all contain various sugars that are not efficiently absorbed by the intestinal lining, thus increasing the amount of water in the colon. Given in large enough doses, all of these foods and juices are very effective laxatives. However, most children are not willing to take in enough of these fruits and juices day in and day out for many months to serve as primary treatment for encopresis. Eaten in large enough quantities to ensure 2 soft bowel movements a day, these foods and juices often cause bloating and gas.

There is little evidence that eating a high-fiber diet significantly improves encopresis once it is established, although it may help prevent constipation in the first place.

Drinking plenty of fluid helps keep stools soft and may help prevent constipation in the first place.

Children with encopresis rarely need surgery. However, surgery may be used in extremely chronic and refractory cases.