New concepts in the management of encopresis.

Persistent fecal incontinence without anatomic abnormality, otherwise known as soiling or encopresis, frequently brings ridicule and shame to the affected child. The disability that it imposes is accentuated by the parental anger, guilt, and helplessness it engenders; by the peer hostility and rejection it promotes; and by the disgust with which it may be greeted by teachers. Home-based pediatric therapy is safe, generally very effective, and rewarding to patient, family, and physician. However, it requires a comprehensive understanding of both the underlying pathophysiology and the integrated therapeutic program of counseling, pharmacotherapy, and behavior modification.