Symptoms of Constipation in Children
A child suffering from constipation experiences uneasy bowel movements for about 2-3 times a week. The symptoms of constipation include the following:
* No bowel movements for longer time.
* Hard and dry stool. Difficult to pass. Blood observed on the surface of the stool.
* Abdominal pain
* Fatigue
* Poor appetite
* Nausea
Common Causes of Chronic Constipation in Children
Psychological Factors – Anxiety, depression, anorexia nervosa, anismus and forced withholding of stool are some psychological factors that cause constipation in children.
Bowel Evacuation Habit – Often neglecting the defecation urge leads the colon muscles to stop responding to the presence of stool in rectum. This results in lose of tone and thus constipation.
Diet – Lack of dietary fiber and not taking adequate fluids can lead to constipation. Some foods if consumed in large quantities can lead to constipation. These include pizza, potato chips, cheese, eggs, bacon, hamburger, peanut butter, pastries, white rice, pasta, white bread, energy drinks, milk, alcohol, fried meat, chocolate, ice cream and unripe bananas.
Intestinal Parasites – Intestinal parasites too lead to constipation along with abdominal pain, itchy skin, bloated abdomen and anemia.
Celiac Disease – Some non-characteristic symptoms for celiac disease include constipation, bloated abdomen, fatigue, weight loss and itchy skin.
Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 – Children suffering from diabetes mellitus type 1 often complain of constipation.
Some chronic diseases like kidney failure and hypothyroidism too lead to constipation. Similarly, using medications like antidepressants, antacids and painkillers over long-term can lead to constipation.
Rare Causes of Chronic Constipation in Children
Some rare causes of chronic constipation usually observed in children are cystic fibrosis, Hirschsprung’s disease, distended colon and juvenile polyposis syndrome.
Acute Constipation
Acute or short-term constipation is noticed in children when under undue stress. Even traveling and hot weather can lead to acute constipation.
Complications of Chronic Constipations in Children
Though, not a serious condition in children, constipation can sometimes result in anal fissure and the hardened stool sticks to the colon requiring an enema to empty it.
General Rules about Treatment of Constipation in Children
A child suffering from constipation should be given adequate amounts of fluids and fibers should be including in diet for him/her. Never force a child to eat food as this can have an adverse effect. At times a soothing massage can help in bowel activity. Laxatives should be tried only after failure of diet and not without a doctor’s approval.
Related tags
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Most children suffer from constipation that is why it is important to include fiber rich food on their daily. Love your article… Very informative and helpful. Thanks for sharing one.
After some amazing personal experience, I feel that probiotics should be the first place to turn if a child is constipated. Bacterial imbalances in childrens’ guts often starts young when mother’s receive antibiotics in the hospital to stave off infection – killing off the beneficial bacteria in the mother’s gut. That bacteria is supposed to pass on to the baby in the vaginal fluid during birth and via breast milk afterward. But if the mother doesn’t have a strong presence of beneficial bacteria then the child doesn’t get it either.
Based on diet, this bacterial imbalance could continue. The sugars that kids eat everyday promote the harmful bacteria, fungi, and yeasts in their bodies. To benefit the good bacteria, kids need to be eating foods high in soluble fiber and enzyme rich foods like leafy greens. Since many kids don’t eat too much of either of these things, their beneficial bacteria are not strong.
These bacteria are crucial to the gut because when they eat fiber, they produce short-chain fatty acids that act as fuel to the colon’s cells. This allows the colon to contract normally and often cures constipation. I had a friend whose baby was constipated after coming back from the hospital. He had not had a bowel movement for over a week. With her permission, I put some probiotics in his formula and he was literally going just a few hours later. What’s even better is that probiotics kill of harmful bacteria, boosting a child’s immune system. In my experience, they should be the first supplement you look into if your child is suffering from constipation.