Constipation in Children
Constipation in Children
It is defined as the difficulty in passage of stool or infrequent bowel movements in children. Constipation is occurred when there is less than three bowel movement in a week it is the common problem in children.
Symptoms
Below mention are the signs and symptoms:
- Hard stools
- Needing press abdomen to empty the rectum
- Difficulty in passage of stool
- Passing less than 3 stools in a week
- Feeling of blockage in rectum
- Bloating
- Pain in stomach
- Bleeding during passage of stool
Causes
Following factors involved in the constipation in children:
- Issues in toilet training
- Diet changing from liquid to solid
- Child may ignore the bowel movement
- Certain medications also cause constipation
- Change in child routine also disturb the bowel habits.
Complications
Complications include:
- Anal fissures
- Rectal prolapse
- Ignore bowel movement cause stool withholding
- Encopresis
Diagnosis
After history and physical examination your doctor might recommend the following test:
- X-ray to see any abnormality in the intestine and rectum
- Blood test to rule out any systemic disease
- Colonoscopy to examine the colon
- Anorectal manometry to check the function of muscles of rectum and anus
- Rectal biopsy to check the nerve cells functionality in the rectum
- Barium enema x-ray
Treatment
The main treatment option for chronic constipation is change the lifestyles and diet if it not reduces the symptoms then your doctor prescribed the medications. Treatment options include:
- Increase fibers in diet.
- Exercise daily
- Avoid sedentary lifestyle
- Don’t ignore bowel movement
- Laxatives like stimulant, osmotic and fiber supplements will also help to reduce constipation
- Lubricants to prevent injury
- Suppositories
- If your constipation is due to any blockage in intestine or rectum then you need a surgery to remove the blockage.