Bowel Movements

My 8 year old daughter, constantly has partial bowel movements in her underwear.  We have tried many methods to correct this including, punishment, talking, rewards, and plain old staying on top and watching her.  We have tried sending her to the bathroom every 1/2 hour.  I am at the end of my rope.  She says she cannot feel that she has to go, which i can understand if there is a physical cause, but even after she goes she is reluctant to change, now that I dont know if it is caused by embarrasment or maybe she really doesnt know.  I have found dried feces under her bed, and she said after much nagging, that she didnt want anyone to know.  That much has stopped.  She is a bright, otherwise well developed and well liked child, but now this is interfering with friendships because as cruel as children can be, once they smell it, they make fun of her.
What can be the cause, what can i do?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Theresa,

You mention various attempts to change the behavior within the family setting, but you didn't mention any medical interventions. What has your daughter's pediatrician said about the circumstances? Has she been referred for pediatric gastroenterology examination, e.g.?

The most frequent explanation for such a symptom is chronic constipation and, consequently, impacted bowels. The child, due to self-consciousness, tries to hide the problem instead of caling any attention to it.

In any case, if she han't been examined medically, this is the place to start.

[heather]

I have a 7 year old that does the same thing. She goes through 6-7 pairs of underwear a day. She does not realize that this is a problem. We have tried everything. We have also given her laxitives along with seeing a doctor. All the doctor would do is take an x-ray of her stomach and give her an enima and send her home. The problem continued to happen. We still deal with the problem day in and day out. The only advice I can give is not to nag and belittle the child. It only hurts the child in the long run. Hang in there. I am hoping that someday we will find a solution to the problem.