CONSTIPATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?

Constipation: What you need to know?

Posted June 10, 2020

: Constipation in Children: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help

Constipation is a common digestive issue in children, leading to irregular or difficult bowel movements. While occasional constipation is normal, persistent issues can cause discomfort and may require medical attention.

What Causes Constipation in Children?

Several factors can contribute to constipation, including:

High Milk Diet: Excessive consumption of milk and cheese can lead to hard, pale stools. A well-balanced diet with fiber-rich foods is essential.
Low Fiber Intake: A diet lacking in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can result in small, hard stools that are difficult to pass.
Insufficient Fluid Intake: Dehydration can make stools dry and harder to pass, though it’s rarely the sole cause of constipation.
Lack of Physical Activity: Limited movement can slow digestion, making bowel movements less frequent.
Pain-Related Stool Retention: If passing stool is painful due to an infection, diaper rash, or an anal fissure, children may hold back bowel movements, worsening constipation.
Toilet Training Struggles: Some children resist bowel movements due to power struggles around toilet training, leading to recurrent constipation.
Slow Digestion (Slow Transit Time): A naturally slow movement of food through the intestines, often inherited, can contribute to constipation.

Signs and Symptoms of Constipation

Straining or difficulty passing stool
Pain or crying during bowel movements
No bowel movement for three or more days (except in breastfed infants over one month old)
Discomfort that comes and goes, often mild

If your child experiences persistent constipation, seeking guidance from a specialist can help. If you're looking for the best pediatricians in Altoona, PA, consulting a trusted doctor can provide tailored advice and treatment for your child’s digestive health.

By maintaining a balanced diet, ensuring proper hydration, and encouraging physical activity, parents can help prevent and manage constipation in children. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, a pediatric consultation is the best course of action.

The above symptoms are generally seen as the signs of constipation. The condition of the child can become severe. How do we identify the severity of the problem? Following are few segregations based on the severity level of the illness:

Seek ER Help(Severe)

Vomiting bile (green color). Exception: stomach juice which is yellow.

Call Doctor Seek Care

Stomach pain goes on more than 1 hour (includes crying) after using care advice
Rectal pain goes on more than 1 hour (includes straining) after using care advice
Vomits 2 or more times and stomach looks more swollen than normal
Age less than 1 month old and breastfed
Age less than 12 months with recent onset of weak suck or weak muscles
Your child looks or acts very sick
You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

What you as a Parent can do?

Any child with pain during stool passage or lots of straining needs treatment. At the very least, they need changes in diet. Following are few guidelines that can be followed:

Diet for Infants Under 1 Year Old

Age over 1 month old only on breast milk or formula, add fruit juice.
Give 1 ounce (30 mL) per month of age per day. Limit amount to 4 ounces (120 mL).
Pear and apple juice are good choices. After 3 months, can use prune (plum) juice. Reason for fruit juice: approved for babies in treating a symptom.
Age over 4 months old, also add baby foods with high fiber. Do this twice a day. Examples are peas, beans, apricots, prunes, peaches, pears, or plums.
Age over 8 months old on finger foods, add cereals and small pieces of fresh fruit.

Diet for Children Over 1 Year Old:

Increase fruit juice (apple, pear, cherry, grape, prune). Note: Citrus fruit juices are not helpful.
Add fruits and vegetables high in fiber content. Examples are peas, beans, broccoli, bananas, apricots, peaches, pears, figs, prunes, or dates. Offer these foods 3 or more times per day.
Increase whole grain foods. Examples are bran flakes or muffins, graham crackers, and oatmeal. Brown rice and whole wheat bread are also helpful. Popcorn can be used if over 4 years old.
Limit milk products (milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt) to 3 servings per day.
Give enough fluids to stay well-hydrated. Reason: keep the stool soft.