Constipation in Children |
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DESCRIPTION
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It is not unusual for children to grunt, strain, draw up their legs, and become red in the face when having a bowel movement. Constipation means the bowel movement is hard and dry, making it painful and hard to push out. Some children have two or three movements daily. Others may have a normal movement only every 5 to 7 days. Breastfed children can have large, soft movements without pain every 7 days. Formula-fed children will have firmer stools. Constipation is generally not a serious problem. But it can make the child uncomfortable.
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CAUSES
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Adding new foods, such as chocolate, to your child's diet can cause constipation. Eating or drinking too much milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, or other milk products can cause the problem. Certain medicines, such as iron, also can cause constipation. Constipation can also result from waiting too long to go to the bathroom. School-age children can become constipated because they are afraid of using the school bathroom. Family problems such as a new baby or a family death also can cause some children who are being toilet trained to become constipated.
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SYMPTOMS
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Pain while having a bowel movement is a sign of constipation. Your child may cry while trying to pass the movement or say that it hurts. The child may go many days without having a bowel movement. He or she may want to have one, but even with pushing and straining, can't pass the stool. Constipation can cause small tears that bleed near the rectum. These tears will heal without medicine. You may notice small amounts of bright red blood on the toilet tissue or on the bowel movement. A diaper rash can also cause pain during a bowel movement. The child will not want to have a bowel movement because of the pain on his or her bottom.
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CARE
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Most cases of constipation can be treated at home as long as the child does not have a lot of belly pain.
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