Constipation In Children

Constipation is a condition of improper bowel movement. In most cases the child experiences pain and also has difficulty passing dry and hard stool. In normal condition there’s no pain while passing the stool and has a soft texture. The bowel movement is usually regular.A young child having constipation not only finds it hard to pass stool, but sometimes will feel the urge to pass and as he goes to the toilet, he cannot relive himself.

The digestive system is responsible from the intake of the food to the smooth passage of waste. The food or fluids are consumed from the mouth, which heads towards the stomach via the food pipe. After the stomach treats the food with acid, it passes on to the small intestines and then to the large intestines, also called as bowels. The final stage of food digestion is the outlet through of the waste through the anus and rectum. During the whole processing, the body parts absorb nutrients and water from the food supplied to them. The left over matter comes out as waste.

Except for not passing stool regularly, the child feels full most of the times and is a bit of uncomfortable. The belly could also feel stretched as a result of the full feeling. The child makes great effort to pass and the experience can be quite painful. Maybe even after passing, the child may feel the urge of passing more stools. Due to the hard stool, it may cause small tears in the anus skin and there will be little blood on the toilet paper. The child should immediately tell this to his parents, who will manage the situation immediately. Some kids who may have a worse condition will pass watery stool, something similar to diarrhea, and mucus along with the hard stool.

Constipation is becoming increasingly widespread as a result of the unhealthy diet pattern by most of us today. With the easy reach of processed foods, other fatty, starchy and sugary foods, children don’t get the required amount of fiber, which in turn decreases the bowels. It’s the responsibility of the parents to make their children eat fiber enriched foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Along with eating food rich with fiber, it is equally vital to drink enough fluids. Water is the best fluid for this condition. Fluids help to soften the stool and allow smooth passage inside the intestine. Insufficient intake of fluids makes the stool dry and hard.Young kids are becoming more stagnant due to internet, video games, and television, which are leaving them with little or no time for physical exercise. Exercise helps the food to move through the digestive system. Lesser active play time and physical activity is also a major cause of constipation.

Stress and anxiety can play havoc over the digestive system. School going kids are usually stressed out because of the assignments, homework and exams. An adult can talk the child out of the stress. Children, who suffer from the irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, usually worsen their condition due to stress. Spicy and high fat foods can also act as triggers, in addition to the stress. Kids having this syndrome might even experience gas and belly pain.

In very rare cases, medical conditions such as lupus, diabetes and thyroid gland malfunctioning might also lead to constipation.

Other tips: Always keep your bathroom clean, unclean restrooms might keep children away. When the nature’s call is neglected, it becomes harder to go at a later time.