Constipation in children is a common problem.
A constipated child has infrequent bowel movements or hard, dry stools.
Common causes include early toilet training and changes in diet. Fortunately, most cases of constipation in children are temporary.
Protecting your child from costipation
Encouraging your child to make simple dietary changes — such as eating more fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and drinking more water — can go a long way toward alleviating constipation.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of constipation in children may include:
- Less than three bowel movements a week
- Bowel movements that are hard, dry and difficult to pass
- Pain while having a bowel movement
- Stomach pain
- Traces of liquid or pasty stool in your child's underwear — a sign that stool is backed up in the rectum
- Blood on the surface of hard stool
- If your child fears that having a bowel movement will hurt, he or she may try to avoid it.
When to see a doctor
Constipation in children usually isn't serious.
However, chronic constipation may lead to complications or signal an underlying condition.
Take your child to a doctor if the constipation lasts longer than two weeks or is accompanied by:
- Fever
- Not eating
- Blood in the stool
- Abdominal swelling
- Weight loss
- Pain during bowel movements
- Part of the intestine coming out of the anus (rectal prolapse)
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20354242
