Question
A nine-year-old child has been frequently defecating in their pants since the age of eight, and this has become more frequent recently. The parent has already taken the child to medical check-ups for gastrointestinal function and intelligence levels, which were found to be normal. Despite multiple communications with the child and even resorting to corporal punishment, the child’s behavior has not improved. The parent’s friends suggest that it may be a psychological issue, and the parent wants to know if this behavior could be due to psychological problems and whether it is normal for the child to lack shame for this behavior.
Answer
It is recommended that the parent take the child to a pediatric health care department for an evaluation and maintain good communication with the child in daily life, avoiding the use of corporal punishment. The child’s behavior may not necessarily be caused by a psychological disorder.