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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > General Health Questions > Bowel movements
Posted on: 06/28/2006
Question
My son is 13 yrs and is 6ft 3 in. - he has a problem of not having a bowel movement in toilet but seems to always be in his underwear. I have tried many things and even the teasing at school doesn't make him stop why is this happening?
Answer
Your son's encopresis (having bowel movements in his pants rather than in the toilet) raises both medical and psychological issues. While encopresis is common in very young children, it is rare at your son's age. If you have not already done so, you might start by consulting his pediatrician. Even if this problem has a medical basis, it clearly is causing psychological distress, which in turn makes the behavior more difficult to change. I would strongly recommend that you also consult a child therapist with specific experience in this kind of behavioral/emotional problem.