Discover the connection between constipation and vomiting in toddlers. Explore the symptoms, treatment, and home remedies for constipation in children.

Understanding the Link Between Constipation and Vomiting in Toddlers

Constipation is a common issue among toddlers, and it can often lead to various other health problems, including vomiting. Contrary to popular belief, constipation and vomiting are not mutually exclusive, and one can indeed cause the other. In this comprehensive article, we’ll delve into the reasons why constipation can lead to vomiting in toddlers, as well as explore the treatment options and home remedies available to address this condition.

The Surprising Signs of Constipation in Toddlers

Most parents are familiar with the obvious signs of constipation, such as painful bowel movements and avoidance of the potty. However, there are some not-so-obvious symptoms that may indicate your toddler is struggling with constipation. These include bed-wetting, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, tummy aches, and even changes in behavior, such as increased irritability or a reluctance to leave familiar surroundings. It’s important to be vigilant and recognize these lesser-known signs, as they can provide crucial clues to the underlying issue.

Unraveling the Mechanisms: How Constipation Can Lead to Vomiting

The connection between constipation and vomiting in toddlers lies in the complex interplay between the digestive system and the body’s overall functioning. When a toddler experiences severe constipation, the impacted stool can put pressure on the lower abdomen, which can trigger the vomiting reflex. This is because the built-up pressure in the intestines can cause the stomach to push back, leading to nausea and vomiting. Additionally, the strain of trying to pass a hard, impacted stool can also contribute to the vomiting response.

Combating Constipation: Home Remedies and Treatment Options

If you suspect your toddler is experiencing constipation, there are several home remedies and treatment options you can try to alleviate the issue. Increasing hydration with water or prune/pear juice can be an effective first step. Over-the-counter stool softeners, such as Pedia-Lax, can also be used for children 2 years and older, as directed by your healthcare provider. It’s crucial to monitor your toddler’s symptoms and seek medical attention if the problem persists or worsens within 24 hours, as some underlying conditions may require professional intervention.

Ruling Out Other Conditions: When to Seek Medical Advice

While constipation can often be managed with home remedies, it’s important to be aware of when to seek medical advice. If your toddler is experiencing persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, or a fever, it’s essential to consult with your child’s healthcare provider to rule out any serious medical conditions. They can perform a thorough examination, order necessary tests, and provide the appropriate treatment plan to address the underlying issue.

Fostering Open Communication: Helping Toddlers Express Their Discomfort

Toddlers may not always be able to clearly communicate their discomfort, which can make it challenging for parents to identify the root cause of the problem. It’s important to encourage open communication and be attuned to any behavioral changes that may indicate your toddler is experiencing constipation or other digestive issues. By creating a supportive environment and actively listening to your child, you can work together to find the best solution and alleviate their discomfort.

Conclusion: Empowering Parents to Recognize and Manage Constipation in Toddlers

Constipation in toddlers is a common occurrence, and it can sometimes lead to vomiting as a secondary symptom. By understanding the underlying mechanisms, recognizing the subtle signs, and exploring the available home remedies and treatment options, parents can take proactive steps to address this issue and provide their toddlers with the necessary relief. Remember, it’s always best to consult with your child’s healthcare provider to ensure the proper course of action and rule out any serious medical conditions.

Is This Really Constipation? It’s Not Always What You Think

Most moms can spot the signs of their child’s constipation, such as avoiding the potty and painful poops. But can you spot some of the not-so-obvious signs your child may actually be constipated?

1. Bed-Wetting

Bed-wetting (wetting at night during or around sleep) or accidents (wetting during the day), especially after the child is potty-trained can be a sign of constipation. This can happen even after the child has been fully potty-trained. When the child has a large stool sitting in their lower abdomen, they feel constant pressure there whether they can tell you or not. They can sense that any movement or bearing down, like with peeing, can cause that stool to pass. When the child tries to avoid the pain, their body withholds the stool and also holds in the urine. The bladder then overflows and, combining with a of lack of space in the lower abdomen, the urine will flow out uncontrollably causing an “accident. ”

2. Diarrhea

Loose, watery stools—also called diarrhea—surprisingly can occur in constipated children. How is this possible? It starts as one or more episodes of constipation. The child remembers this as a painful or bad experience and most likely will not or cannot communicate what they feel to the parent or caregiver. Instead, the child tries to avoid pooping and holds it in. This causes more water and intestinal contents to leave the stool and leak into the body. As a result, the stool becomes hard and stuck, making it more difficult to pass out of the body. The child keeps eating and more poop is created that needs to be eliminated. In this case, liquid stool may then leak around the stuck stool mass, resulting in staining of the underwear. Parents may think this is a pooping accident and not a sign of constipation, which is an easy mistake to make.

3. Nausea, Vomiting or Tummy Aches

Constipation can look like the symptoms of the stomach flu. Nausea, vomiting, complaints of stomach pain and diarrhea and soiling are signs that both conditions share. Constipation will not come with a fever. Stomach flu sometimes does. Lack of appetite is also a sign of both. The child may not be able to tell you exactly how they are feeling, so you may not know for sure if it’s constipation or an illness. It is best to talk to your child’s doctor or other health care professional to make sure an infection is ruled out.

4. Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can also be a sign of constipation. As explained above, when children have large, impacted stools sitting in their lower abdomen, they feel constant pressure there whether they tell you or not. If they hold in urine to avoid the pain of bearing down or pooping, this can lead to a UTI. To make things worse, if the child is uncontrollably soiling their underwear due to loose fecal matter passing around the impacted stool, this also can cause a UTI.

5. Changes In Behavior

Sometimes constipation can show up as small changes in your child’s behavior. These are some behaviors to look for:

• Wanting to take naps and not play
• Loss of appetite
• Being picky about food
• Not wanting to leave the house or other familiar places
• Hiding in private areas of the house more than usual
• Becoming combative and irritable

These behaviors are often seen in toddlers and infants who are unable to express the exact pain and feelings they have. If you think your child is constipated, talk to their doctor and ask if Pedia-Lax may be right for them.

What to Do If You Think Your Child Is Constipated

If you see the signs described above, the child has not had a normal poop in 24 -36 hours and the child does not have fever, you can try increasing the child’s hydration with water and/or prune or pear juice. If they still don’t poop, Pedia-lax® products such as the chewable tablets or liquid stool softener can be used as directed for children 2 years old or older. If the problem and symptoms persist or worsen within a 24-hour period, you must contact the doctor.

It is always best to talk to your child’s doctor to make sure you are taking the right course of action and to rule out any serious medical condition.

Can Constipation Cause Nausea? Understanding Symptoms of Constipation

Understanding Symptoms Of Constipation

Written by Dr. Joel Warsh – Genexa Healthcare Provider & Partner on May 12, 2021

Constipation is one of the most common health issues faced by adults and our kids alike, and it can cause a variety of symptoms that relate back to your gastrointestinal health and digestive system.

Sometimes, constipation may come along with nausea, but it can be hard to determine whether the nausea is caused by the constipation, or if both things are being caused by a larger problem.

If it is your kids who are dealing with this it can be very concerning as a parent to see your children so uncomfortable, so it is important to understand the most common symptoms of constipation, and know when it is time to consult your pediatrician.

What is Constipation and Why Does it Happen?

Constipation happens when your stools become too hard or too dry to pass regularly, and these difficulties result in less than three bowel movements per week.

Constipation also entails:

• Stools that are hard, dry, or lumpy
• Stools that become painful to pass
• Feeling like not all of the stool has been passed after going to the bathroom

While these are generally indications of constipation, every person’s body is different, so only you know what is normal for you or your children know what is normal for them.

Constipation can be a free-standing problem caused by certain lifestyle choices or a diet too low in fiber, but it can sometimes be a symptom of a larger medical problem, hence our emphasis on knowing what constipation is usually like.

Being able to recognize common symptoms of constipation can help you take care of your child when they experience this problem, or take them to the doctor if their toilet troubles seem to go beyond just that.

Most Common Symptoms of Constipation

Though each person and child may experience slightly different symptoms, these are the most common symptoms that constipation might bring along:

• Feeling bloated and generally uncomfortable in your tummy area
• Feeling sluggish
• Abdominal pain and stomach cramps
• Difficult and painful bowel movements

If your child is having these symptoms and has made them clear to you by making toilet-talk a regular part of the day, it is time to take some next steps to help them clear their troubles.

Oftentimes, you will easily be able to recognize constipation as the culprit, but sometimes it might not be as clear-cut, and your child’s confusing description of their potty-related difficulties will warrant a visit to the doctor’s office.

It will typically not be necessary to consult a doctor for a mild case of constipation, as we all admittedly deal with this problem at some point. However, certain symptoms or unusual longevity of the issue will be a clear indication that medical professionals are needed.

When To See a Doctor

Constipation that lasts for more than two weeks, or that is accompanied by red flag symptoms, should be treated by a doctor.

Serious symptoms that you should keep an eye out for include:

• Fever
• Sharp and severe stomach pains
• Stabbing pains in the lower back
• Vomiting

These may be signs of a more serious medical condition or a complication caused by your child having a hard time going number two.

Additionally, if your kid starts to simply refuse to go to the bathroom out of fear that their bowel movements will be painful, this, too, means a trip to the pediatrician is in order.

When your kid holds in their stool to avoid discomfort, it can result in fecal impaction or other complications, and it is best to stop these in their tracks before they get the chance to wreak havoc on your little one’s tummy.

Chronic Constipation: What It Is and How to Recognize It

Generally, a case of constipation will start to resolve within a week or so and is typically easily treated with some diet changes, home remedies, and a gentle over-the-counter laxative like Genexa’s Kids’ Senna Laxative.

In some cases, though, your child’s constipation may actually be chronic, and this requires medical attention.

Chronic constipation is very much associated with feelings of nausea, and many children who have chronic constipation actually end up with a large intestine that has been stretched out of shape… which results in your child having extremely large bowel movements, and yes, they might even be big enough to clog the toilet.

If your child does have chronic constipation, these large bowel movements will be constant and can cause extreme pain because of their potential to create anal fissures, which are small tears or rips around the anus that sometimes cause bloody stool. If this does happen, you should keep in mind that they are not necessarily dangerous, but they can be very painful and will likely frighten your child.

Recognizing a Chronic Problem

So, how can you recognize chronic constipation and put an end to it before it causes your child even more discomfort? Know the symptoms.

The most common symptoms of chronic constipation include:

• Changes in appetite, including your child suddenly becoming full very easily
• Constant or frequent abdominal pain and cramps
• Irritability
• Nausea and vomiting
• Urinary problems as a result of an enlarged rectum leaving less room for the bladder to expand — this means your child will need to urinate more frequently and they may get urinary tract infections or bladder infections

If you notice these changes in your child’s bathroom habits and overall attitude and behavior, it is time to call the pediatrician. Your doctor will be able to set you and your child on the right path and will come up with a treatment plan based on your kid’s symptoms.

Constipation, even if it is chronic, is usually easily resolvable, and your doctor may prescribe certain laxatives or stool softeners to make your child’s return to normal a little bit easier. Your doctor will likely also advise you to keep your child on a high fiber diet for a period of time since fiber helps keep things moving along through the digestive system. In fact, insufficient fiber may have been what caused the problem in the first place.

The Bottom Line

Constipation is common and highly treatable, and can sometimes cause nausea. Occasionally, constipation and nausea may be symptoms of certain gastrointestinal conditions, and it is important to know what symptoms indicate that a trip to the doctor is necessary. Constipation lasting longer than two weeks, or that is accompanied by nausea and vomiting or a fever, may be a sign of something more serious.

Treating constipation usually entails eating more fiber, upping water intake, and making use of stool softeners or laxatives like those offered by Genexa. If these methods fail, your doctor will be able to steer you in the right direction and get you or your child back on your feet in no time.

Sources:

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/constipation/definition-facts

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/constipation

https://med. virginia.edu/pediatrics/clinical-and-patient-services/patient-tutorials/chronic-constipation-encopresis/symptoms-of-chronic-constipation/

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Constipation in a child 1-6 months – what to do, how to treat? 7 home tips for constipation from Professor Nyankovsky

1. Home
2. Knowledge Base

What most often worries a child and his parents in the first months of life, with what parents most often turn to pediatricians or family doctors during the first year of a child’s life?

1. Colic
2. Regurgitation
3. Locks
4. Diarrhea
5. Child anxiety,
6. Bloating

C apor in a child of an early age

Constipation in infants baby! In the first days of life, your baby will have bowel movements, often referred to as meconium. It’s thick black or dark green substance that filled the intestines before birth, and as soon as the meconium is passed, the stool will become yellow-green . What’s next?

• If your baby is breastfeeding – his stools usually look like grainy mustard . Until he begins to eat solid food, the consistency of the stool can vary from very soft to semi-liquid and liquid.
• If the baby is fed formula milk – his stool will usually be brown or yellow
• But if he eats hypoallergenic mixtures or with deep protein hydrolysis, the stool can be green . This is fine. If your baby is breastfeeding or formula-fed, hard or very dry stools may be a sign that he is not getting enough fluid or is losing too much due to illness, fever or heat.

Signs of constipation. How often should a small child poop?

In the first couple of weeks after birth, the frequency may be equal to the number of feedings, then it is usually established 1-2 times a day . We will talk about constipation when:

1. The intervals between bowel movements will be increased compared to the age norm, for example, two or fewer bowel movements per week
2. If defecation will be accompanied by significant straining of the child , anxiety, crying
3. When we see feces in the form of clay, hard feces, sometimes in the form of “sheep feces” , fragmented, in small portions, with an admixture of blood
4. If you notice that the child is in pain during a bowel movement, the bowel movement continues abnormally long, there are small cracks in the skin around the anus or the baby has a hard belly

Speaking of constipation, there are two pieces of news: good and bad. The bad news is that they occur frequently, the good news is that 95% of them are functional in nature, are treated quite effectively and do not require the intervention of a pediatric surgeon.

The main reasons for the development of functional constipation in children of the first year of life are as follows.

1. Alimentary i.e. food. Early or rapid transition to artificial feeding with low-quality mixtures or mixtures that contain alpha palmitic fatty acid, improper daily and nutritional regimen for the mother, non-compliance with the drinking regimen by the mother and child, violation of feeding (underfeeding, improper introduction of complementary foods, monotonous nutrition and violation of its regimen, frequent change formulas, high iron formula feeding
2. Cow’s milk protein intolerance, ie. food allergy
3. Iron deficiency
4. Not enough milk
5. Maternal hypogalactia, inefficient suckling (malformations of the oral cavity, general weakness), frequent regurgitation and vomiting cause constipation. In this case, the feces become dark, viscous and scarce. The child urinates less and less, gains weight poorly

How to diagnose constipation and what to do?

It is necessary to assess the general condition and weight of the child, how much milk he receives per feeding and per day by weighing before and after feedings, if he is breastfeeding, and to correct nutrition if necessary.

Formulas for constipation

Previously, after a baby was placed on formula, most children developed constipation. This was often due to the presence of a fatty component in cow’s milk in the form of alpha palmitate , which is converted in the intestines to a substance that causes fecal hardening. Cow’s milk protein often caused allergic reactions, which were manifested by a violation of peristalsis, the absence of prebiotics-oligosaccharides in cow’s milk did not allow normal intestinal microbiocenosis to form, which also affected intestinal motility. Now the situation has changed, most infant formulas are as close as possible in their composition to the parameters of breast milk and do not cause such a problem.

Therefore, when switching to artificial nutrition make sure that the mixture contains a fatty component in the form of beta-palmitate , contains prebiotics galacto- and fructooligosaccharides 9001 8 in ratio in concentration 0.8 g/100 ml ., partially hydrolysed protein, such as in Nutrilon Comfort 1

Cow’s milk protein allergy and constipation

If constipation is associated with cow’s milk protein allergy, then additionally the child may have rash and dryness of the skin, itching How to check if this is the cause of constipation? Try an elimination diet. If the mother is breastfeeding, it is necessary to exclude all dairy products from her diet for 3-4 weeks (and do not forget to give her calcium supplements in an amount of at least 1 g per day), if she feeds with mixtures, give the child mixtures with deep protein hydrolysis, i. e. e. mixtures for the treatment of allergies, such as Nutrilon Pepti.

Other possible causes of constipation:

1. Genetic predisposition – parental constipation
2. Pathological course of pregnancy and childbirth
3. Perinatal CNS injury
4. Muscular hypotension – due to various causes
5. Prematurity
6. Hypothyroidism
7. Vitamin D hypervitaminosis
8. Food allergy
9. Intestinal dysbacteriosis
10. Insufficient attention of the mother to the timely formation of the defecation reflex in the child
11. Febrile constipation – your pediatrician should help with this

Why is constipation dangerous?

An increase in intra-intestinal pressure leads to pain syndrome, disrupts evacuation from the small intestines, promotes the development of various refluxes, disrupts the normal composition of the intestinal microflora, protein decay products appear in the intestine, which increase the functional load on the liver, and the risk of functional megacolon formation increases. In children with constipation, intoxication may occur: appetite decreases, mood worsens, the child becomes irritable.

If the constipation is sufficiently persistent, then your doctor should rule out organic pathology: Hirschsprung’s disease, dolichosigma, megarectum, megadolichosigma, polyps, intestinal tumors, adhesive disease and anorectal stenosis.

Constipation in children is not usually a big problem, but if it lasts more than two weeks or there is fever, weight loss, refusal to eat, blood or large amounts of mucus in the stool, severe abdominal distension or swelling, vomiting of bile, pain with bowel movements, or rectal prolapse, decreased muscle strength/tonus of the lower extremities – see a doctor as soon as possible.

Treating Constipated Babies – 7 Home Tips for Constipation

1. Special Exercise: move the legs of the child lying on their back smoothly, mimicking the movement of a bicycle.
2. Give him a warm bath, this relaxes the abdominal muscles and relieves the discomfort associated with constipation. Your baby may poop in the tub, so be prepared.
3. Pick up optimal nutrition . For a nursing mother, it is worth trying a diet with the exception of cow’s milk, with artificial nutrition, choose a mixture that contains prebiotics galacto- and fructooligosaccharides, partially hydrolyzed protein, a fat component in the form of beta palmitate, and which has proven itself in clinical studies. If the baby is formula fed, check that you are adding enough water, double check that you are following the instructions on the formula jar correctly, make sure you are using the spoon that comes with the formula, make sure you are not tamping the powdered formula into the measuring spoon – this should be loosely filled and leveled with the flat side of a knife or the leveler provided. Make sure you add the water to the bottle first and then the powder mixture, this is important, otherwise you will add too little water to the bottle. In the diet, if age permits, you can include apples without skin, broccoli, oatmeal or whole grain bread, pasta, peaches, pears, plums, stewed prunes, stewed apricots and stewed vegetables.
4. Additional fluid . Young children get it from breast milk or formula. But constipation sometimes helps with a little water or, less commonly, diluted fruit juice when over 4 months old.
5. Massage . Make circular movements on the stomach in a clockwise direction, without pressing hard on the stomach. Without fanaticism!
6. Fruit juice. A small amount of diluted juice: 1 part juice to 3 parts water: apple or prunes 50-60 ml, this may relieve constipation. But check with your pediatrician first!
7. Rectal irritation . Take a thin gas outlet tube, lubricate it well and insert it into the ass by 1-2 cm. But this cannot be done often, you can become addicted to such a procedure.

Laxatives, enemas, medicated suppositories can be given to a child only on the recommendation of a doctor, not on your own! Never give these medicines to a child unless a doctor tells them to

Video: Constipation in a child 7 advice from a professor

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Constipation in a child – causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of constipation

Constipation in a child – the absence of stool for a day or more, as well as a change in the nature of the feces when they become hard and dry with a normal frequency of defecation.

Children often experience constipation due to malnutrition, stress, problems with the digestive system. To accurately determine the cause of a malfunction in the intestines, the child needs to be examined.

Causes of constipation in a child

The doctor determines the specific cause based on the history, clinical symptoms and examination data. There are several factors that can cause constipation in a child.

Non-compliance with the rules of nutrition

Most often, young parents face such a problem for the first time immediately after the introduction of the first complementary foods to a child at 6 months of age. Cereals and solid foods begin to dominate the baby’s diet, while the usual breast milk fades into the background. All this affects both intestinal motility and the consistency of stool. They become hard and take the form of small balls (the so-called “sheep feces”). Because of this, every act of defecation in the baby is difficult and painful, so he often cries during a bowel movement.

Constipation in children aged 3-4 years is a lack of fiber in the diet. But it is she who stimulates intestinal motility. The child consumes few vegetables and fruits, which are the main sources of fiber, since cottage cheese, cereals, and meat begin to predominate in his menu.

In this case, it is enough to change the baby’s diet by adding more vegetables, fruits, “soft” foods and liquid foods to the diet, as well as adjust the drinking regimen.

Psychological state of the child

“Psychological constipation” occurs in children who are taught to use the potty. Parents need to be patient, because if the baby feels irritation, each act of defecation will become a source of stress for him.

Preschoolers and younger children may have difficulty going to the toilet when they first start kindergarten or school. Then they begin to restrain natural needs, which is fraught with constipation. In this case, calm conversations with the child can help.

Dysbacteriosis

Reproduction of pathogenic microflora and suppression of vital activity of beneficial bacteria also cause constipation. Due to indigestion, bowel movements begin to occur with a delay. The feces become greenish-gray and acquire an unpleasant odor. In this case, the child complains of rumbling and pain in the abdomen.

Infectious process

Often, constipation develops after an infectious disease that occurs with a high temperature. Because of the fever, fluid from the body is lost during increased sweating and during evaporation with rapid breathing. Therefore, due to lack of fluid, stools acquire a dense texture and move poorly through the intestines.

Pathologies of the rectum and chronic diseases of the digestive system

Constipation can be a symptom of many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation of the mucosa or ulcerative defects on it disrupt the normal process of digestion. This is reflected in the frequency of trips to the toilet.

As for the pathologies of the rectum, they are all characterized by painful defecation. Therefore, the child tries his best to restrain himself so as not to experience discomfort during a bowel movement.

Helminthiases

Worm infestations can be diagnosed at any age. However, in young children, they often provoke constipation. Infection occurs with errors in personal hygiene. As a result, digestion is disturbed, beriberi and anemia develop, and due to the deterioration in the movement of feces through the intestines, problems with defecation appear.

Other causes

Constipation in a child can also be caused by irritation of the skin around the anus or an allergic reaction in this area. In this case, the act of defecation provokes pain and discomfort, so the child deliberately avoids it.

Constipation can also be one of the symptoms of pathologies such as hypothyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, anemia, food allergies. Sometimes the cause of constipation in a child may be a hereditary predisposition or a side effect of taking certain medications. In any case, only a doctor can determine the cause of the problem.

Symptoms of a pathological condition

Constipation is accompanied by a number of unpleasant local and general symptoms. Among the local manifestations, parents usually note in a child:

• decreased frequency of bowel movements;
• incomplete bowel movement;
• dense consistency of feces;
• baby complains of pain during bowel movements.

With constipation, especially prolonged, the general condition of the child may suffer. In many cases, this is due to intoxication of the body. In particular, parents notice:

• weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite and headache;
• appearance of pimples on the skin;
• bloating from flatulence.

At the same time, one should not forget about the clinical symptoms of the underlying disease (if any), against which constipation appeared.

In order to recognize the problem of constipation in a child and consult a doctor in time to select a treatment, parents need to know the norms for the frequency and nature of the stool in children of different ages.

Classification and stages of development of constipation

A unified classification of this pathological condition has not been developed. However, in clinical practice, depending on the origin, there are:

• primary constipation – occurs as a result of anomalies in the development of the digestive system;
• secondary constipation is a symptom of another disease;
• idiopathic constipation – the exact etiology of the pathological condition has not been established.

According to the nature and duration of the course, constipation can be:

• acute, when problems with bowel movement occur suddenly;
• chronic, in which the child suffers from a defecation disorder for more than 3 months.

There are also constipation:

• functional when there is no organic lesion of the digestive tract;
• hypertensive – the intestines with feces are in a strong tone;
• hypotonic – the tone of the intestine is weakened and in this state is not able to maintain normal motility.

There are also 3 stages of compensation for the pathological condition:

1. Stage 1, fully compensated – bowel movement occurs 1 time in 2-3 days;
2. Stage 2, subcompensation – the act of defecation in a child happens 1 time in 5-7 days;
3. Stage 3, decompensation – stool occurs once a week or less.

Mechanism of constipation development

Constipation occurs when stool stays in the intestines for a long time, which makes it even drier and denser, as there is additional absorption of fluid. Bowel movements are difficult and painful. Often there is injury to the mucosa. During the act of defecation, the child experiences very unpleasant sensations, so he tries to restrain himself.

The more often this happens, the faster the intestines adapt to this condition. First, there is a slowdown in impulses signaling the need for an act of defecation. Further, fecal masses begin to stagnate. All this provokes the development of general intoxication of the body, contributes to the appearance of dysbacteriosis, indigestion and further aggravates the child’s condition.

Fossilized feces gradually stretch the capsule of the rectum. The anal sphincter weakens. Liquid calculi begin to flow around the formed lump, and stone smearing begins.

When should I see a doctor?

The child needs medical attention if:

• the child complains of severe abdominal pain;
• no stool for more than 3 days;
• when emptying the intestines, the rectal mucosa falls out, or hemorrhoids appear;
• there are traces of fresh blood or mucus in the stools;
• stool changes its characteristics – becomes dry, hard, fetid;
• the general condition of the child suffers – the body temperature rises, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting appear.

Diagnostic methods

First, at the appointment, the doctor collects an anamnesis of the disease, asking the parents in detail, and also evaluates the baby’s diet and drinking regimen based on the data. Next, the doctor conducts a general examination of the child, paying attention to the skin turgor and its color, palpates the abdomen. If necessary, conducts a digital examination of the rectum, assessing the condition and filling of its ampoule, sphincter tone and the integrity of the mucosa.

After the examination, the doctor recommends to the parents a complete examination of the child, which usually includes:

intestinal endoscopy (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy) is a study that allows you to study the condition of its mucosa and diagnose a number of pathologies of the digestive tract.

Only on the basis of the results of the examination, the doctor can determine the cause of constipation and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Methods for treating constipation

Treatment of constipation should only be complex. It is prescribed necessarily taking into account the causes and concomitant pathologies. The treatment regimen includes drugs, herbal medicine, physiotherapy (electrophoresis), reflexology, exercise therapy.

But first of all it is necessary to change the way of life. If a child is diagnosed with functional constipation, he is advised to move more, since any physical activity stimulates the motor function of the intestine.

The second aspect is diet. The child’s diet should contain a sufficient amount of foods rich in fiber, which stimulates digestion and peristalsis. In parallel, it is necessary to adjust the baby’s drinking regimen.

As a drug treatment for constipation, parents can use:

• probiotics and prebiotics with lactulose;
• laxatives and cholagogues;
• antispasmodics.

Only the attending physician can prescribe a specific drug and adjust the dosage according to age.

Diet for constipation

Correction of diet for constipation is the main component of the success of treatment. Nutrition should be age-appropriate and meet its needs for essential substances.

If the baby is breastfed, continue breastfeeding. If necessary, it is worth adjusting the mother’s diet: reduce consumption or completely eliminate foods that increase gas formation from the diet. With artificial feeding, it is recommended to choose a mixture containing special additives.

For the first feeding, it is better to choose puree from vegetables that stimulate intestinal motility: zucchini, pumpkin, cauliflower. All babies, regardless of the type of feeding, after the start of complementary foods, need a sufficient amount of boiled water.

If an older child has constipation, it is essential to include enough fresh fruits and vegetables, natural sources of fibre, in the diet. There are some exceptions to this rule: for example, pears, persimmons, and blueberries are astringent and can aggravate constipation.

Fiber is also found in a significant amount in oatmeal and buckwheat, wholemeal bread, and bran. Specially prepared bran can be purchased at a pharmacy. To treat constipation in a child, bran is poured with warm water, settled for 20 minutes and added to main dishes. The dose is selected individually, starting with 1 teaspoon. With constipation, bran should be given 2-3 times a day, and after solving the problem, the frequency of intake is reduced to 1 time per day. When taking bran, it is necessary to provide the child with plenty of fluids, otherwise bran can play the role of a sorbent and further increase constipation.

The child’s food should be mainly crumbly, contain meat (poultry, fish) in pieces. Breakfast should be plentiful in order to reflexively stimulate the act of defecation in the morning.

To eliminate constipation, you should avoid eating pureed foods, strong tea, coffee, jelly, rice and semolina porridge. It is also necessary to minimize the presence of sweets and muffins in the diet. It is better to replace fresh milk with fermented milk products.

The best drink for children suffering from chronic constipation is plain boiled water. You can give diluted vegetable and fruit juices with pulp. Without following the condition of abundant drinking, any adjustments to the child’s diet may be ineffective.

Daily routine

The habit of following a daily routine helps to establish the correct functioning of the vegetative part of the nervous system and develop the habit of emptying the intestines at a certain time.

In the morning, immediately after waking up, give your child half a glass of water (for children under 3 years old – a third of a glass). Then the child can do morning hygiene procedures, exercises. Usually these actions take no more than 20 minutes, after which the baby has breakfast.

Ideally, after a meal, an act of defecation should occur. By agreement with the attending physician, it can be called in auxiliary ways, for example, with the help of a candle or microclysters. In case of success, the child should definitely be praised, and if he did not succeed, do not scold.

All children need walks and active play. Movement stimulates peristalsis, which ensures effective prevention of constipation in a child – this rule is also relevant for babies at 1-2 years old, and preschoolers 5-6 years old, and older children.

Possible complications of constipation

Long-term constipation can cause distension of the colon. If the feces stand in one place for a long time, this can lead to impaired blood circulation in the intestinal walls and the formation of hemorrhoids. With excessive straining, the rectum sometimes falls out.

Constipation can lead to general intoxication, dysbacteriosis, provoke colitis, paraproctitis and other chronic bowel diseases.

Prognosis and prevention

The prognosis for the pathological condition is favorable, but the sooner attention is paid to the problem, the better for the child.

Prevention of constipation consists in the gradual introduction of complementary foods, rational nutrition, adherence to the drinking regimen, periodic examinations for helminths and timely treatment of pathologies of the digestive tract.

How to calculate the correct amount of fluid for a child

1. Babies under 1 year of age should drink at least 100 ml of water per day.
2. After one year, if the child weighs 10–20 kg, add another 50 ml per kilogram to the original 100 ml.
3. Children over 20 kg should add 20 ml per kilogram to 600 ml.
4. For babies 3-5 years old and older, the calculation of the daily volume of liquid is simpler – just take 30 ml of water per kilogram of body weight.

Questions most frequently asked by parents

What is forbidden to do with constipation in a child?

Small children, who have just started to potty training by their parents, should not be shouted at and forced to sit on it. In addition, with constipation at any age, you should not give foods that slow down intestinal motility (semolina and rice porridge, persimmon, pear, jelly).

What can be done before the doctor arrives?

Parents can give a laxative suppository and micro enema. Laxatives, even if there is an instruction, are recommended to be given only after consulting a doctor.

How to make an enema for a baby?

It is necessary to take a rubber bulb of small volume, draw water at room temperature (temperature not higher than 22–26 ° C), grease the tip with Vaseline. Babies up to a year old are placed on their backs, older children on their left side. With one hand, the buttocks are parted, with the other, the tip of the rubber bulb is carefully inserted to a depth of 3–5 cm.

Then the bulb is slowly squeezed and the entire portion of water is squeezed out. Then the pear is taken out, the buttocks of the child are squeezed for 2–3 minutes, after which they are put on a potty or sent to the toilet.