US-based Synergy Pharmaceuticals has launched a series of 14 animated emojis known as Poop Troop, designed to allow people to better express the physical and emotional impact of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

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The Poop Troop will also encourage conversation and is part of the company’s disease education initiative, Confront Constipation.

It has been designed to raise the understanding and increase dialogue on managing CIC.

Available for iOS and Android, the Poop Troop emoji keyboard app can be accessed directly from the standard keyboard page on a user’s smartphone, after installation.

Synergy Pharmaceuticals marketing senior director Julie Holcombe said: “Many people with CIC feel embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about their symptoms with those closest to them, so they often suffer in silence.

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“Our hope is that the Poop Troop can help make difficult conversations easier for people with CIC, while raising awareness around the impact of CIC beyond those living with this complex disorder.”

Each character in the app represents a type of bowel movement, from constipation, to normal, to diarrhoea, and an emotion that people with CIC often associate with each.

"Many people with CIC feel embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about their symptoms with those closest to them, so they often suffer in silence."

The emotions include ‘stressed,’ ‘depressed,’ ‘angry,’ ‘relieved,’ ‘cool,’ ‘euphoric,’ ‘surprised,’ ‘concerned’ and ‘embarrassed.’

The functional gastrointestinal disorder CIC affects about 33 million Americans and an estimated 14% of the global population.

CIC can cause infrequent, hard stools and other physical symptoms such as straining, abdominal bloating and discomfort.

People with CIC show symptoms of difficult-to-pass and infrequent bowel movements.

Image: Meet The Poop Troop (Static). Photo: courtesy of Business Wire.