Terms and definitions of defecation problems
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Constipation | Difficulty or delay or distress in defecation |
| Overflow faecal incontinence | Frequent passage of small volumes of stool in clothing usually without sensation (often referred to as “soiling”) |
| Non-retentive faecal incontinence | Episodic passage of normal volumes of stool in socially inappropriate places including clothing (often referred to as “encopresis”) |
| Faecal impaction | Retention of faeces usually palpable per abdomen to a degree that spontaneous evacuation is unlikely |
| Megarectum | A rectum of high capacity that empties incompletely or following long delays |
| Withholding | An active behaviour resulting in a change in posture that reduces the likelihood of defecation |