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Constipation in Children
Article provided by the National Digestive Diseases Information
Clearinghouse
Constipation means that bowel movements are hard and dry,
difficult or painful to pass, and less frequent than usual. It
is a common problem for children, but it is usually temporary
and no cause for parents to be concerned.
When a child does not eat enough fiber, drink enough liquids, or
get enough exercise, constipation is more likely to occur. It
also happens when children ignore the urge to have a bowel
movement, which they often do out of either embarrassment to use
a public bathroom, fear or lack of confidence in the absence of
a parent, or unwillingness to take a break from play. Sometimes
constipation is caused by medicines or a disease.
Symptoms of Constipation in Children
Symptoms of constipation in children include
- no bowel movement for several days or daily bowel movements that
- are hard and dry
- cramping abdominal pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- weight loss
liquid or solid, clay-like stool in the child's underwear--a
sign that stool is backed up in the rectum
Constipation can make a bowel movement painful, so the child may
try to prevent having one. Clenching buttocks, rocking up and
down on toes, and turning red in the face are signs of trying to
hold in a bowel movement.
Treatment depends on the child's age and the severity of the
problem. Often eating more fiber (fruits, vegetables,
whole-grain cereal), drinking more liquids, and getting more
exercise will solve the problem. Sometimes a child may need an
enema to remove the stool or a laxative to soften it or prevent
a future episode. However, laxatives can be dangerous to
children and should be given only with a doctor's approval.
Although constipation in children is usually harmless, it can be
a sign or cause of a more serious problem. A child should see a
doctor if :
- episodes of constipation last longer than 3 weeks
- the child is unable to participate in normal activities
- small, painful tears appear in the skin around the anus
- a small amount of the intestinal lining is pushed out of the anus (hemorrhoids)
- normal pushing is not enough to expel stool
- liquid or soft stool leaks out of the anus
For More Information on Constipation in Children
American Academy of Pediatrics
National Headquarters
141 Northwest Point Boulevard
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1098
Phone: (847) 434-4000
Fax: (847) 434-8000
Internet: www.aap.org
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal
Disorders (IFFGD) Inc.
P.O. Box 170864
Milwaukee, WI 53217
Phone: 1-888-964-2001 or (414) 964-1799
Fax: (414) 964-7176
Email: iffgd@iffgd.org
Internet: www.iffgd.org
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