why does my son dig feces out of his butt? is it a medical condition?

Question

hes 9 yrs of age .
doesnt complain of constipation.
he wipes it on the walls

we have made an appointment

Answer 1

It depends how old he is. If he is an infant or toddler, it's likely just a phase. If he is older it could be that he is developing/has developed a fecal fetish. Or, he is not getting enough fiber and it is too big/too hard to come out on it's own, so he is 'helping it along' so to speak. I wouldn't hesitate to ask his pediatrician, however!

Answer 2

What does he do with the feces?

it could be he has a medical problem in his bottom.. Has he been abused, is he normal developmental all of these are questions you should discuss with your physician..

The psychiatric (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for encopresis are:

Repeated passage of feces into inappropriate places (e.g., clothing or floor) whether voluntary or intentional
At least one such event a month for at least 3 months
Chronological age of at least 4 years (or equivalent developmental level)
The behavior is not exclusively due to a physiological effect of a substance (e.g., laxatives) or a general medical condition, except through a mechanism involving constipation.
The DSM-IV recognizes two subtypes: with constipation and overflow incontinence, and without constipation and overflow incontinence. In the subtype with constipation, the feces are usually poorly formed and leakage is continuous, and occurs both during sleep and waking hours. In the type without constipation, the feces are usually well-formed, soiling is intermittent, and feces are usually deposited in a prominent location. This form may be associated with oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder, or may be the consequence of anal masturbation.

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Treatment
There is a 3-pronged approach to the treatment of encopresis associated with constipation:

cleaning out
using laxatives to soften the stool
scheduled sitting times, typically after meals
The initial clean-out is achieved with laxatives, enemas, or both. Following that, laxatives are used daily to keep the stools soft.

Next, the child must try to use the toilet regularly to retrain his/her body. It is recommended that a child be required to sit on the toilet and 'try' to go for 10-15 minutes immediately after eating. Children are more likely to go to the bathroom immediately after eating. Creating a regular schedule of bathroom time will allow the child to achieve a proper elimination pattern

Answer 3

If he is a little boy,...then he has found out something new to experiment with. He needs to be disiplined, and told that it is nasty and not to play with poopoo...If he continues, then maybe a checkup to make sure something is not bugging him physically. I don't think it is a medical condition. I have heard of kids sticking pencils in their privates, and up their butts and everything else. Kids are weird, and will experiment, but you have to train him it is wrong and unsanitary....what little kid didn't play on the wall with it ?>LOL...good luck dear

Answer 4

never heard of such a thing. good luck to you