Child Specialist & Neonatologist

Constipation

Constipation is a common problem in childhood. It is rarely due to an underlying medical cause. Your doctor will be able to determine if any extra tests are necessary for your child.

What causes constipation?

It is not always clear why children become constipated. Causes may include:

  1. Holding onto stools

    • Children may put off going to the toilet if it is painful or if they are too busy and distracted e.g. if they are playing.
    • Other children might avoid using toilets at preschool/school if they are unfamiliar, smelly, or if they don’t want to be teased.
    • Holding on can cause the stool to build up in the bowel and it can become hard.
  2. Illnesses where your child eats and drinks less

    • If your child has a viral illness, they may eat and drink less than normal. This can contribute to constipation because less food/drink is being consumed. Children can also get constipated after having gastroenteritis due to poor fluid intake.
  3. Not enough fibre from food

    • Fibre helps our bowels to work regularly. If fibre is not part of child diet then problem can arise
    • It is also important to not to give your child above the recommended amount of fibre as it can worsen the symptoms especially in a child not drinking enough fluid
  4. Not enough fluid

    • Your bowels need fibre and fluid to work together, to keep them moving regularly

What to do?

It is important for your child to pass any hard stool that is stuck in the lower bowel. The lower bowel can often be overstretched and not working properly. Any hard stool that may be stuck needs to be passed to clear the bowel and let it recover. The stools then need to be kept soft, often for a long time, to allow the overstretched bowel to return to its normal size again. This will also help the stools to bepassed without pain. While having enough fibre is important, the best way to treat constipation is with medication and behavioural techniques.

Key Points

  • Treatment of constipation takes time and patience. Constipation can, and often does, come back again
  • Fibre, fluid and regular exercise can all help to keep the bowel working regularly.
  • Remind your child to avoid holding on to their stools. Encourage them to sit on the toilet after at least one meal a day
  • Always use any medications for constipation as directed by your doctor

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