Many children suffer from chronic constipation due to diet or life changes. This can include toilet training or frequently eating high-fat or sugary meals and snacks. Sometimes children who are sedentary or who have ADHD have chronic constipation as well. The Mayo Clinic recommends that parents contact a pediatrician for chronic constipation because medications and other illnesses can contribute to the condition and need to be treated accordingly.
Definition
The Mayo Clinic defines chronic constipation in children as a common and usually temporary problem. Dietary changes and an increase in exercise can help move the waste through a child's body easier and more quickly. Sometimes medications are used to empty the bowels.
Symptoms
Children who have chronic constipation have irregular and infrequent bowel movements that are dry or hard and often painful or difficult to eliminate. According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic constipation can cause pain in the stomach, nausea and a poor appetite. Many children exhibit a poor mood. Blood in the stool can occur because when a child strains to go, it can tear tiny blood vessels in the opening of his rectum. The Mayo Clinic advises that a child who suffers from constipation for more than two weeks or has a fever, throws up, has bloody stools, swelling of the stomach or sudden weight loss accompanying the constipation needs to see a doctor promptly for treatment.
Causes
Many things can lead to chronic constipation in children. Among these are a diet high in sugary treats like cookies, soda or candy or frequently eating fast-food meals. If a child rarely exercises, the combination of these two factors can lead to constipation on a regular basis. Withholding is another problem young children sometimes have. If they pass a bowel movement that hurts, they may be afraid to go and hold it, which can lead to pain the next time, says the Mayo Clinic. Children first learning to potty train may become constipated as they get used to holding their bowel movements until they get to the bathroom. Finally, some medications can lead to constipation. A doctor can help parents evaluate whether medications may be causing their child's constipation.
Treatments
Many children feel relief with an over-the-counter fiber supplement, which can help things move through the digestive tract. Other children may need a laxative or an enema. A high-fiber diet and plenty of fluids and exercise can reduce the occurrence of chronic constipation in children.
Prevention
Many prevention methods are similar to treatments. Parents who make sure their child is eating adequate amounts of fiber and getting plenty of fluids in the diet can help reduce constipation. Regular exercise is also important, both for general health as well as the health of the digestive tract. Reminding children to go can prevent withholding, and having a bathroom routine can make children feel more comfortable about emptying their bowels. Providing healthy, balanced meals on a schedule can help a child regulate his bathroom trips and cut down on the chronic constipation, says Kids Health.
