*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Soiling Child Pooing Their Pants

Soiling is when a child regularly poos their pants. If they're already potty-trained, the soiling is usually because they are badly constipated. Treatment from a GP can help.

Causes of soiling

You may feel angry or frustrated when your child keeps pooing their pants (soiling). But they are not doing it on purpose and may not even realise it's happening.

Soiling usually happens when a child is so constipated that a large, hard piece of poo becomes stuck at the end of their gut (rectum).

Fresh poo from higher up the gut then runs around the hard poo and leaks out, staining their pants.

See a GP if:

your child is regularly pooing their pants (soiling)

It's important not to try to sort out soiling by yourself.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

your child is pooing their pants (soiling), has a swollen tummy and is being sick
your child is soiling and has numbness or weakness in both legs

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Treatment for soiling from a GP

If your child is pooing their pants (soiling) because they're constipated, a GP can prescribe laxatives to clear out the hard poo and get your child pooing regularly and comfortably again.

This can take a few months to work. The GP will want to see your child regularly to check how they are doing.

The soiling may get worse before it gets better.

A GP may refer your child to a specialist for treatment if they think soiling could be caused by another medical condition.

Things you can do at home to help with soiling

If your child is regularly pooing their pants (soiling), it can help to:

set up a regular toilet routine for your child - for example, they could sit on the toilet for 5 minutes every day after each meal and before going to bed
be positive and encouraging - you could use a star chart to reward your child for sitting on the toilet (whether or not they do a poo), or leave some toys or books next to the toilet
encourage your child to go to the toilet as soon as they get the urge to during the day
make sure your child is drinking plenty of fluids and has enough fibre in their diet
encourage your child to be physically active

Find out more

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.