WHAT IS CONSTIPATION IN CHILDREN?
When your child finds trouble in his bowel movements, it’s probably constipation. Children with constipation complain about the stools that are hard, dry, and painful to pass. The condition may occur daily or be less frequent. Even though constipation in children causes uneasiness and pain, it’s usually temporary. However, the best part is that it can be treated with certain treatment methods. In fact, it is common to find children with constipation at pediatrician’s office.
What are the causes of constipation?
A variety of reasons are responsible for causing constipation in children. Yet, the important ones are explained below.
- Diet: Usually, the changes in diet may cause irregular bowel movements. Also if you are not taking enough fiber or fluid in the diet can also cause constipation.
- Illness: In case of any illness, a child may lose his appetite, so the changes in his diet can shake off his system and cause him to be constipated.
- Withholding: Withholding stool for different reasons can be a cause of constipation. Children generally withhold to avoid pain from passing a hard stool. Your child may avoid passing a stool because he doesn’t want to go in the middle of a game. Besides, some children are embarrassed or uncomfortable using a public toilet; this can get them constipated.
- The reaction of Some Medicine: There are some of the medications that can cause constipation.
- Certain Medical Conditions: Constipation may also result from certain medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland).
- Other changes in routine, such as traveling, weather changes, or stressful situations, may affect your child’s overall health and how his bowels function.
What are the symptoms of constipation?
Symptoms of constipation in kids may include:
- Not having regular bowel movements.
- Especially, hard stools that are painful to pass
- Abdominal pain, such as cramping or nausea
- In addition to abdominal pain, Rectal bleeding may also cause a lot of pain during and immediately after bowel movements.
- Moreover, loss of appetite
- Also, Stress or depression can be a cause
What happens when constipation in children is not treated early?
If not treated early, your child’s constipation problem may get worse. Having said that, the longer your child takes to have a bowel movement, the longer it stays inside the lower intestinal tract, so the larger, firmer, and drier it becomes. Consequently, it turns out to be more difficult and painful to pass the stool.
HOW TO TREAT CONSTIPATION IN KIDS?
There are various treatment methods to treat constipation in kids. Get an appointment and visit your child’s pediatrician as soon as you know about his irregular bowel movements. Of course, he can recommend the best treatment according to your child’s situation. Further, your child may need to have a medical test for evaluation to know the severity of the problem. For example, your child’s pediatrician may need to check your child’s body from inside, or he may ask for the x-rays used to create these images. After that, your child’s doctor will recommend treatment. While in most cases, he doesn’t ask for the tests.
