[Causes, mechanisms and therapy of functional fecal incontinence in children].

1. In case of encopresis in childhood about 50% are caused by disorders of perceiving the need to relieve the bowels and bowel movement, about 30% are caused by disorders of controlling the adaptation mechanism of the rectum or the defecation reflex and about 15% are caused by disorders of the sphincter apparatus. 2. A nonsurgical therapy must be a complex one. Its effect has to aim at concerning the psychoneurologic state, conalizing the reflexes, bettering the conductivity of the nerves as well as enhancing the sphincter-tonus. In addition to psychotherapy, gymnastics and sphincter-training the transrectal and intrarectal electrostimulation is of great importance. 3. To form an estimate of the mechanism of encopresis-pathogenesis many different methods are necessary and possible; these are the precondition for an effective differentiated therapy.