Constipation in Children: What Causes it?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha - Pediatrician - Neonatologist, Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital
Constipation is a common condition in children, this is a warning sign of an unhealthy digestive system, lack of water, lack of fiber in the diet. In the case of children suffering from constipation for a long time, it can affect their health as well as have difficulties in treatment.

1. What causes children to be constipated?

There are many causes of constipation in children, which are divided into 2 main causes: physical causes and functional causes
Physical causes include problems with hyperthyroidism, mental illness peritoneal meridians, intestines...
Children with hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism reduces intestinal muscle activity along with other symptoms. Congenital megaloblastic disease: Children with this condition are often underweight, they may also vomit and have smaller stools. Children with this disease need surgery, otherwise it will lead to toxic megacolon complications, septic shock, possibly intestinal perforation. Diabetes: Children with diabetes can also become constipated. Nervous diseases can also cause severe constipation, including conditions such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or spinal problems. Children with the disorder often have mobility problems including abnormal bowel movements and lack of coordination in bowel movements. Functional causes include:
The child's refusal to defecate is the most common cause. The longer the child fasts, the longer the stool stays in the intestines and the larger it is, the more difficult it is for the child to pass the stool, resulting in chronic constipation. Newborns are often constipated if they are introduced to solid foods suddenly, especially in babies who are eating solid foods for the first time. Constipation can also occur when a baby is weaned from breast milk. This is because weaning sometimes causes babies to lose their water supply. Different protein composition in formula can be the cause of constipation in babies. Infants fed formula in large quantities and who are constipated often have green, hard stools. Constipation is also common in children who are dehydrated and dehydrated, when the body will absorb liquid from anywhere in the body from food, drink, even stool, which inadvertently causes stool to become cloudy. solid and dry. In addition, a diet lacking in fiber also causes constipation. Fiber from vegetables and fruits contributes to the volume of stools, making them softer.

2. What are the signs that the child is constipated?

When children with constipation often have a feeling of anorexia, over time when nutrients are deficient, as well as vitamins and minerals are not absorbed, it will lead to unequal physical and intellectual development. . Leads to children may be stunted, low weight, poor digestion, dim, tired.
In cases of severe constipation, children often have symptoms of pain, itching, even fresh blood in the stool, the cause of the above phenomenon is because when the stool becomes hard and big, it will rub with the anus to form cracks. on the skin around the anus. The disease will be even more dangerous when those cracks become inflammatory foci or abscesses.
Digestive disorders such as diseases related to the gastrointestinal tract, intestines, colon such as colon disease, malabsorption,... can occur due to severe constipation.
Especially when the child tries to push or strain when unable to have a bowel movement, it will lead to the child developing internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids or some combination of the two. It is painful, itchy, and can even cause bleeding.

3. Treatment of constipation in children

3.1. Maintain a scientific diet In the diet for children with severe constipation, children should drink enough water and vegetables. In addition, children should be taught the habit of going to the toilet not to hold back.
Besides adding water as well as fiber, parents should also note:
For breast-feeding children: breast milk should be given to children because breast milk contains a balanced composition of fat and protein, fiber, water... This keeps your baby's poop always soft, even if he hasn't gone to the bathroom for a day or two. For weaning children: During the weaning phase, foods such as milk powder, cereal powder, cereal porridge... often lack fiber. Introducing these foods too soon can cause your baby to become constipated. Older children: Children should be taught to drink a lot of water as well as eat a lot of vegetables and fruits as well as avoid fasting to make sure they are not constipated. 3.2. Get your kids to exercise regularly

For babies, practice gentle movements, including exercises for hands and feet.
With older children, encourage them to participate in outdoor activities as well as participate in sports, avoid letting them sit for too long in front of the TV or phone screen.
3.3. Take your child to see a doctor When experiencing unusual signs in a child such as pain in the anal area when having a bowel movement, hemorrhoids, anal fissure accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, fear of cold, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, bloody diarrhea... Parents should take their children to medical facilities for examination, diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

4. Constipation treatment for children at Vinmec Times City International Hospital

At Vinmec Times City International Hospital, pediatric patients will be examined by gastrointestinal endoscopy to accurately diagnose the condition.
Equipped with synchronous medical equipment, the most modern flexible endoscopic system today of Olympus Japan - a prestigious manufacturer of top quality in the world. Along with that, the wire system and tools used during endoscopy are treated with absolute sterility according to international standards to avoid the risk of infection. The foot pedal irrigation system helps the doctor to take the initiative in irrigating the patient's gastrointestinal tract. Professional medical team: Specialist Doctor II Tran Van Quang - Pediatrician, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital. With more than 30 years of experience in gastrointestinal endoscopy, there are many researches, treatments, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching on gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary diseases in children. Gastrointestinal endoscopy helps to accurately diagnose the patient's digestive diseases, help give the right treatment regimen, intervene in time, and limit the occurrence of complications. In order to limit the child's constipation as well as the use of antibiotics, parents should pay attention to the diet to improve the child's resistance. At the same time, supplementing with supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins, etc., helps support the immune system, strengthens resistance so that children are less sick and less likely to have digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
The role of zinc - Guidelines for reasonable zinc supplementation
Please visit the website Vinmec.com regularly and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.