Constipation in children

Description

Constipation in children is a common problem. A child constipation is infrequent bowel movements or hard, dry stools.

Common causes include the principles of training to go to the bathroom and changes in diet. Fortunately, most cases of constipation in children are temporary.

Encourage your child to make simple diet changes — for example, eating more fiber, rich in fruits and vegetables and drinking more water can go a long way to relieve the constipation. If your child's doctor approves, it may be possible to treat a child's constipation with laxatives.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of constipation in children may include:

  • Less than three bowel movements a week
  • Bowel movements that are hard, dry and difficult to pass
  • The pain while you have a bowel movement
  • Stomach pain
  • Traces of liquid or pasty stools in your underwear — a signal that your stool is backed up in the rectum
  • Blood on the surface of hard stool

If your child is afraid to have a bowel movement is going to hurt, he or she can tr to avoid. You may notice that your child is crossing her legs, squeezing her buttocks, twisting his body, or what you face when you try to hold stool.

When to see a doctor

Constipation in children usually is not serious. However, chronic constipation can lead to complications or the signal of an underlying condition. Take your child to a doctor if constipation lasts more than two weeks or is accompanied by:

  • Fever
  • Do not eat
  • Blood in the stool
  • Abdominal Swelling
  • Weight loss
  • The pain during the arcof the movements
  • Part of the intestine coming out of the anus (rectal prolapse)

Causes

Constipation most commonly occurs when waste or stool moves too slowly through the digestive tract, causing the stool to become hard and dry.

Many factors can contribute to constipation in children, including:

  • The retención.Su son can't ignore the need to have a bowel movement, because he or she is afraid of the toilet, or do not want to take a break from play. Some children retain when you are away from home because they are uncomfortable using public bathrooms. Painful bowel movements caused by large, hard stools, it may also lead to the retention. If it hurts to poop, your child may try to prevent a repetition of this distressing experience.
  • Toilet training issues. If you start to use the bathroom too soon, your child may rebel and keep in the stool. If the toilet becomes a battle of wills, a voluntary decision to ignore the urge to poop can quickly become an involuntary habit that is resistant to change.
  • Changes in the diet. Not enough fiber-rich fruits and vegetables or fluid in your child's diet can cause constipation. One of the most common times for children constipation is when you're changing from a liquid diet to one that includes solid foods.
  • The changes in the routine. Any change in the routine of your child — such as travel, heat or stress can affect bowel function. Children are also more likely to experience constipation when they first start school outside of the home.
  • Drugs. Certain antidepressantss and several other medications can contribute to constipation.
  • Allergy to cow's milk. An allergy to cow's milk or the excessive consumption of dairy products (cheese and cow's milk), which sometimes leads to constipation.
  • The history of the family. Children who have family members who have andwas the constipation are more likely to develop constipation. This may be due to shared genetic or environmental factors.
  • Medical conditions. Rarely, constipation in children indicates a malformation of anatomic, metabolic or digestive system problem, orr other underlying condition.

Retention. Your child may ignore the need to have a bowel movement, because he or she is afraid of the toilet, or do not want to take a break from play. Some children retain when you are away from home because they are uncomfortable the use of public bathrooms.

Painful bowel movements caused by large, hard stools, it may also lead to the retention. If it hurts to poop, your child may try to prevent a repetition of this distressing experience.

Risk factors

Constipation in children is more likeland to affect children:

  • Are sedentary
  • Not eating enough fiber
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Taking certain medications, including some antidepressants
  • Has a medical condition that affects the anus or in the rectum
  • Have a neurological disorder

Complications

Although constipation in children may be uncomfortable, it usually is not serious. If constipation becomes chronic, however, complications can include:

  • Painful tears in the skin around the anus (anal fissures)
  • Rectal prolapse, when the rectum protrudes from the anus
  • The retention of the feces
  • Avoid bowel movements because of pain, what causes feces retained to accumulate in the colon and rectum and leak out (encopresis)

Prevention

To help prevent constipation in children:

  • Offer your child foods that are high in fiber.A diet rich in fiber can help your child's body form soft, bulky stool. Serve your son more fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain cereals and bread. If your child is not accustomed to a diet high in fiber, start by adding several grams of fiber per day to prevent gas and bloating. The recommended intake of dietary fiber is 14 grams for every 1,000 calories in your child's diet. For young children, this translates into a consumption of around 20 grams of dietary fiber per day. For adolescent girls and young women, 29 grams per day. And for adolescent boys and young men is 38 grams per day.
  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids. The water is often the best.
  • Promote physical activity. Regular physical activity helps to stimulate normal bowel function.
  • Crwe have a grooming routine. Regularly set aside time after meals for your child to use the toilet. If necessary, provide a stage for your child to feel comfortable sitting on the toilet and has enough influence to the release of a stool.
  • Remind your child to pay attention to the call of nature. Some kids get so wrapped up in the game that they ignore the need to have a bowel movement. If such delays occur frequently, can contribute to constipation.
  • Be supportive. Reward your child's efforts, not the results. Give children small prizes to try to move her bowels. Possible rewards include stickers or a special book, or a game that is only available after (or possibly during) toilet time. And you don't punish a child who has soiled underwear.
  • Review of the medications. If your child is taking a medication that causes constipation, ask your doctor about other options.

Offer your child foods that are high in fiber. A diet rich in fiber can help your child's body form soft, bulky stool. Serve your son more fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, preliable, legumes, and whole-grain cereals and bread. If your child is not accustomed to a diet high in fiber, start by adding several grams of fiber per day to prevent gas and bloating.

The recommended intake of dietary fiber is 14 grams for every 1,000 calories in your child's diet.

For young children, this translates into a consumption of around 20 grams of dietary fiber per day. For adolescent girls and young women, is 29 grams per day. And for adolescent boys and young men is 38 grams per day.

Constipation in children

Diagnosis

Your child's doctor:

  • Collect a complete medical history. Your child's doctor will ask about your child's illness in the past. He or she is also likely to ask you about your child's diet and physical activity patterns.
  • Perform a physical examination. Your child's physical exam will likely include placing a gloved finger in the anus of your child in order to detect abnormalities or the presence of impacted stool. The feces were located in the rectum may be tested for blood.

More-extensive testing is usually re -served only for the most severe cases of constipation. If necessary, these tests can include:

  • Abdominal X-Ray. This standard of proof, X-ray allows your child's doctor to see if there is any blockage in your child's abdomen.
  • The anorectal manometry or motility willst. In this test, a thin tube called a catheter is placed in the rectum to measure the coordination of the muscles of your child uses to pass stools.
  • Barium enema x-ray. In this test, the lining of the gut is coated with a contrast medium (barium), so that the rectum, colon, and sometimes part of the small intestine can be seen clearly on x-rays.
  • Rectal Biopsy. In this test, a small sample of tissue from the lining of the rectum to see if the nerve cells are normal.
  • Study of traffic or marker study. In thisst, your child will swallow a capsule that contains the bookmarks that appear in the x-rays taken over a period of several days. Your child's doctor will discuss the way in which the markers will move through your child's digestive tract.
  • Blood tests. Occasionally, blood tests are performed, such as a panel of thyroid.

Treatment

Depending on the circumstances, your child's doctor may recommend:

  • Over-the-counter fiber supplements or laxatives.If your child does not receive a great amount of fiber in your diet, the addition of an over-the-counter fiber supplement, such as Metamucil or Citrucel, it might be of help. However, your child should drink at least 32 ounces (1 liter) of water a day for these products to work well. Consult your child's doctor to find the proper dose for your child's age and weight. Glycerin suppositories can be used to soften the stools, in children, who cannot swallow tablets. Talk with your child's doctor about the correct way to use these products.
  • A laxative or an enema.If an accumulation of fecal material creates a blockage, the doctor may suggest a laxative or an enema to help clear the blockage. Examples include polyethylene glycol (GlycoLax, MiraLax, and others), and mineral oil. Never give your child a laxative or enema without the doctor is good and the instructions on the proper dose.
  • Hospital enema. Sometimes a child may be so severely constipated that he or she should be hospitalized for a short period of time to be given a strong enema to cleanse the bowel (disimpaction).

Over-the-counter fiber supplements or laxatives. If the child not get a lot of fiber in your diet, the addition of an over-the-counter fiber supplement, such as Metamucil or Citrucel, it might be of help. However, your child should drink at least 32 ounces (1 liter) of water a day for these products to work well. Consult your child's doctor to find the proper dose for your child's age and weight.

Glycerin suppositories can be used to soften the stools, in children, who cannot swallow tablets. Talk with your child's doctor about the correct way to use these products.

A laxative or an enema. If an accumulation of fecal material creates a blockage, your child's doctor may suggest a laxative or an enema to help clear the blockage. Examples include polyethylene glycol (GlycoLax, MiraLax, and others), and mineral oil.

Never give your child a laxative or enema without the doctor is good and the instructions on the proper dose.

Alternative medicine

In addition to changes in diet and routine, the various alternative approaches may help relieve constipation in children:

  • The massage. Gently massage your child's abdomen can relax the muscles that support the bladder and intestines, helping to promote bowel activity.
  • Acupuncture. This traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion and manipulation of fine needles in various parts of the body. Therapy can help if your child has constipation associated with abdominal pain.

Preparing for your appointment

If your child is the constipation lasts more than two weeks, it is likely that you first seek medical attention from your child's doctor. If necessaryand, your child may be referred to a specialist in disorders of the digestive system (gastroenterologist).

Because appointments can be brief, and because there is often a lot of ground to cover, it is a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready and know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time of making the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your child's diet.
  • Make a note of any symptoms that your child is experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. It is also a good idea to write your child's signs and symptoms. Date record of your child's constipation began and any other coinciding events. Include notes about the frequency of bowel movements and appearance, and the changes that I have noticed in the appearance of stool (frequency, volume, and content), as well as the what and the how of your child eats and drinks.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you are taking your child. Let your child's doctor to know what steps you have taken to treat your child's constipation.
  • Write questions to ask their child's doctor.

For constipation in children, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is the most likely cause of the symptoms of my son?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What kind of evidence does my child need?
  • How long will this condition last?
  • What treatments are recommended?
  • I need to make changes in my child's diet?
  • We need to see a specialist?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
  • Can this problem be treated without medication?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may reserve time to go over the points that you want to spend more time in. Your doctor may ask:

  • When he made his first child begin to experience the symptoms of constipation?
  • Have your child's symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms of your child?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve the symptoms of your child?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen the symptoms of your child?
  • Can you see the blood of your son and of the movements of the intestine, either mixed in with the stool, in the toilet water or on the toilet paper?
  • Does your child soil your underwear?
  • Does your child the strain with bowel movements?
  • Does your child have a family history of digestive problems?
  • Has your child started any new medication or changing the dosage of current medications?
  • Can you describe your child's toilet-training experience?

What you can do in the meantime

There are several things you can do to help relieve your child's constipation before the appointment with your doctor, for example:

  • Give your child the prune juice. Prune juice can be mixed with other juices (such as apple juice) if your child doesn't like the taste. It is also important to make sure that small children and older children to drink plenty of water.
  • Trim constipation food. Give toddlers and older children less food that can lead to constipation, such as milk and cheese.
  • If possible, take your child to walk or run. Regular physical activity can stimulate bowel movements.
  • Ease-in-training. If you suspect that the potty training can be playing a role in your child's constipation, take a break from training for a bit to see if the constipation improves.
Symptoms and treatment of Constipation in children