Fewer bowel movements and passage of dry, hard stools are common in children and can be due to constipation.
Constipation in children is caused by various factors including unhealthy dietary habits and early toilet training.
The good news is that constipation in children is not a long lasting condition.
Increasing fiber intake and drinking more fluids are some of the simplest ways to ease the symptoms.
However, some cases may require using laxatives.
Common signs and symptoms of constipation in children are:
Most cases of constipation in children are simple and may not require special medical care. But take care not to miss the warning signs as they can lead to complications or may be indicative of an underlying condition.
Visit your child’s doctor if the symptoms including the following, last for more than two weeks:
Slower than normal movement of stool along the intestinal tract is the most common cause of constipation in children, which causes the stool to become hard and dry.
Some contributing factors for constipation in children are:
Your child may hold and avoid toilets as s/he may be too busy playing or prefer not to use public toilets. Sometimes, your child may refrain from having a bowel movement to avoid the pain during the process.
Introducing your baby to toilet too soon can seed feeling of rebel in your child. The condition deteriorates further when voluntary withholding turns into a habit.
Lack of fiber in your child’s diet or not enough fluid intake can cause constipation. Often, the problems of constipation may come up while your child starts taking solid foods.
When you child is exposed to a condition that’s not normal such as travel, hot weather or stress, s/he may observe changes in bowel function. For most children, the first day at school is constipating.
Medications that alter intestinal movement such as certain antidepressants and other drugs can cause constipation.
Children who are allergic to milk or those consuming a large amount of dairy products may also develop constipation.
Having a family member with constipation may cause your children to have the same possibly due to common genetic or environmental factors.
Constipation in children could occur secondary to underlying anatomic malformation, a metabolic or digestive system problem, or others.
Making a diagnosis of constipation in children is done by performing several tests and procedures.
Visit your child's doctor if symptoms last for more than two weeks. S/he may refer your child to a specialist in digestive disorders (gastroenterologist).
Getting prepared for the visit can optimize the therapy and help make the visit more fruitful. List out all the symptoms including changes in bowel habit, stool consistency and frequency.
Write down your key medical information. Write down the names of all your medications, vitamins or supplements.
Some typical questions can be:
A clear talk with your doctor can optimize the therapy and improve the outcomes. Prepare yourself to answer some essential questions from your child’s doctor.
Your doctor might ask you typical questions like:
Here are some tips that you can apply while waiting for the doctor's appointment:
Your child's doctor will have thorough look at all the available information on your child’s condition which might include past illnesses, diet and physical activity patterns.
It involves detecting the presence of impacted stool inside the rectum.
It involves test to detect blood in the stool.
Following tests may also be carried out:
Abdominal X-ray shows obstructions in your child's abdomen.
This test assesses coordination of the muscles during bowel evacuation in your child.
It involves X-ray of the rectum, colon and part of the small intestine by using barium to make the X-ray images more clear.
A small sample of tissue is removed from the lining of the rectum and sent for laboratory analysis.
This test monitors the movements of a capsule containing X-ray sensitive markers along your child's gastrointestinal tract. The monitoring continues for several days.
These tests are rarely recommended.
The treatments of constipation in children include:
You may consider adding an over-the-counter fiber supplement to your child’s diet. Make sure your child takes about 1 liter of water daily while taking these supplements.
Glycerin suppositories might also help children if they cannot take the pills. Learn from your doctor about how to correctly use these products.
A laxative or enema such polyethylene glycol, mineral oil helps to clear the blockage caused by stool. These products should NOT be given without consulting your doctor.
In a process disimpaction, your child who has severe constipation is given more potent enema in a hospital.
Some preventive measures for constipation in children are:
Here are some alternative remedies that might help your child in coping with constipation:
Ask your child to have slow, deep breaths while having bowel movement. It may help to reduce anxiety and relax pelvic floor muscles.
A mental picture of an easy, comfortable bowel movement may help to reduce anxiety.
A gentle abdominal massage may promote bowel evacuation.
It may help to relieve abdominal pain associated with constipation.
Lifestyle modifications are necessary for your child in order to cope with constipation.
Simple dietary modifications can prove immensely useful in constipation:
Make sure your child gets recommended amount of dietary fiber, which is 14 grams for every 1,000 calories in your child's diet.
Talk to your child’s doctor how much fiber your child needs. Encourage your child to take more fiber-rich foods like beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Water is an elixir and promote intake of water in your child along with other fluids. Limit your child’s milk intake.
Ask your child to devote enough time for bowel movements. Generally, 5 to 10 minutes of toilet sitting within 30 minutes of each meal is recommended.
Support your child’s effort in overcoming or managing the symptoms of constipation.
STOP punishing your child for soiling his or her underwear, if you do.
There are several risks and complications associated with constipation in children.
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