Encopresis happens because a child's colon doesn't work as it should. Your child complains about clothes being too tight around the waist. You can feel a hard mass at one side of your child's stomach. Your child is often too full to eat, or vomits after eating. Your child complains of stomachache, heartburn, or cramps.
Encopresis can lead to other problems.
The colon gets bigger and bigger. This hurts its muscles and nerves. They can't signal it's time for a bowel movement. The colon gets too big. The skin around the rectum can crack and bleed.