How to treat constipation in babies and children?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi My Linh - Neonatologist - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital

Constipation is a condition in which a child has a bowel movement less often than usual, the child's stool tends to be dry, hard, making it difficult for the child to pass, painful, even anal bleeding. Constipation is common in children, but is often overlooked and its severity is often overlooked. It can reduce a child's quality of life, cause emotional problems, and create pressure in the family.

1. What is constipation?

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disease in children, statistics show that at least 30% of children with constipation need attention.
Constipation is an infrequent (<3 times/week) or painful, difficult bowel movement that can be uncomfortable and stressful for children and families. Therefore, it is important to recognize early to prevent long-term (chronic) constipation in children.
According to the 2010 NICE criteria, the diagnosis of constipation in children is established if ≥ 2 of the following criteria are present:
There are <3 complete bowel movements per week. Large and hard stools, goat droppings, or very large, infrequent stools that want to clog the toilet. Feeling uncomfortable, tense when going out. Hard stools cause fissures and anal bleeding. Straining a lot, the behavior of holding stools. Previous history of constipation. Past or current history of anal fissures, history of painful bowel movements, and bleeding from hard stools.

2. How to treat constipation in children

Measures to treat constipation for children at home:
Families need to be patient, encourage, and reassure the children's spirit: practice a daily bowel habit for the child, the toilet time is about 3-5 minutes . Do not scold or spank to create fear if the child does not cooperate. Healthy nutrition: Give your child a variety of fruits and vegetables regularly during and between meals. Limit the amount of cow's milk consumed per day for children. Children from 18 months of age should only consume 500ml of cow's milk per day. Drink enough water according to the age of the child. For infants who are exclusively breastfed but have symptoms of delayed bowel movements (for a few days, stools are still soft), most of them are normal, and parents should monitor them further. For children with hard stools that cause difficulty in defecation, anal fissures, a doctor's intervention is required, using stool softeners for children to have more bowel movements, then practice bowel habits. If the child has fecal retention, the stool must be removed immediately. If fecal retention is not present, maintenance therapy is required.

3. When to take your child to the doctor

Symptoms of constipation persist for more than 2 weeks. Constipation in children is accompanied by one of the following symptoms: fever, vomiting, bloody stools, enlarged abdomen, weight loss, anal fissures (cracked skin around the anus) or rectal prolapse (intestines) protruding from the anus). The baby feels uncomfortable and tense every time he has a bowel movement. Hard stools that are lumpy or hard and/or goat-like stools, along with feeling less light after a bowel movement. Bloody or black stools. Do not have a bowel movement at least once in 5 days.
In order for children to be healthy, develop well, and limit constipation, it is necessary to have a nutritious diet in terms of quantity and quality balance. If children are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients, it will lead to diseases of excess or lack of nutrients, which adversely affect the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical, mental and motor skills.
Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiency causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption,... If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.