stomach pain

Chronic Constipation In Children

Chronic constipation in children happens when he or she has less than 3 bowel movements a week, unusually large stools and has a hard time in discharging them. Parents should not worry too much if their child suffers from constipation because it will eventually go away.

Young children who suffer from this disorder often ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. The child may be embarrassed or afraid to ask a teacher to use a public restroom or doesn’t want to be interrupted in his play. When children do this, stools start building up inside the colons. They become larger and harder as time lapses. Sooner or later the child experiences pain in his bowel movement and prefers to avoid it.

There are many things that a parent can do in the treatment of chronic constipation in children. Here are some helpful tips to follow:

  1. diet
  2. bowel habit training
  3. medicine
  4. start a reward program

Take your child to a doctor if the symptoms of constipation doesn’t stop or get better. Constipations could be a sign of a medical condition that needs to be attended to. A doctor can help by keeping a list of your child’s daily bowel movement. You should take note of the activity and provide the doctor with the following lists of information:

  1. When your child sat on the toilet
  2. How long your child sat on the toilet
  3. What your child’s stool looked like
  4. If your child has any soiling in his or her underwear

Other important things that you should pay attention to:

  1. Stools that are large in diameter
  2. Stools that are very hard
  3. Small amounts of bright red blood on the toilet tissue after your child has a bowel movement
  4. Stomach pain and bloating
  5. Loss of appetite
  6. Crying or screaming during bowel movements
  7. Avoiding the toilet or resisting toilet training

The doctor usually does a physical exam including an x-ray of the abdomen. Sometimes an enema is done to physically remove the stool in situations where the constipation is severe. Enema is done by injecting fluid into the child’s rectum. Chronic constipation in children treatment and therapy for depends upon the severity of the constipation.