encopresis
- noun
- /ˌɛnkəˈpriːsɪs/
- Specialized
- The doctor explained that encopresis is common in young children and not always a sign of a serious problem.
- soiling and/or encopresis
- encopresis episodes
Examples
-
Treatment was considered successful if the patients achieved three or more bowel movements per week and less than two soiling or encopresis episodes per month while not receiving laxatives for four weeks.
Academic text (2000) -
Of these children, 114 were ineligible: 88 had only soiling or encopresis, and 26 children had complaints of recurrent abdominal pain without any other criteria of pediatric constipation.
Academic text (2000) -
Encopresis was defined as voluntary or involuntary passage of a quantitatively normal bowel movement in underwear in children over the age of 4, occurring on a regular basis without any organic cause.
Academic text (2000) -
Many parents face challenges when dealing with encopresis, as it can affect a child's self-esteem.
-
Teachers often need to be sensitized about encopresis to support affected students in the classroom.
Synonyms
11
7.6
Not able to control when you pass urine or have a bowel movement
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
encopresis = en + copro + esis
A specialised medical term built from Greek combining forms (en- + copro- + -esis); these parts are not productive English morphemes for typical learners, so the meaning is not derivable from common English vocabulary.
Etymology
Encopresis comes from Greek parts en- meaning 'in' and kopros meaning 'dung' or 'feces'. So the word names a problem with 'feces' being passed without control, which is why doctors use it for involuntary bowel movements in children.