encopresis support advice needed

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My best friends ds (4.5) has had poo problems for the last 3 weeks and I have 'discovered' the existence of encopresis. I have told her to google it and am 99% sure this is what he has, but was wondering if anyone could advise me on the best way to support her. She is obviously struggling to cope and I don't know how to make her feel better.Any advice welcome. Thanks.

Ds (nearly 7) still has encopresis. It is really hard, but the main thing is not to get cross with the child ( I said it was really hard!) Primark and Asda sell really cheap packs of boys pants . She should get her ds to a doctor to rule out constipation - I know it sounds weird but 90%of encopresis is due to this. It's because loose poo leaks past the hard poo blocked in the bowel. Once this is sorted/discounted and reward chart might help. Best of her, tell her she is not alone - this is really common, it's just that no one ants to admit their toilet trained child would do such a thing...

Thank you toobusymum. He has seen the doctor and had no help. Should her doctor have mentioned encopresis or do you think it's worth her taking him back and mentioning it herself? In your experience would the medical experts approach make any difference anyway? The reward/sticker chart has proved ineffective so far. I will tell her she is not alone!

If it is encopresis the reward/sticker chart will have no effect as the child has no control over whether they soil or not.

I would go back to the GP and explain that I was concerned it was encopresis.

And yes, if it is encopresis, then the Gp should be able to help. It might be that the GP refers your friend's ds to a paediatrician for further investigation, so they can rule out encopresis or give relevant treatment.

As toobusy says, don't get cross with the child (he can't help it) and rule out constipation.