Child constipation does not go away, what should I do? & bull; hello healthy

Maybe you have faced your little one who is reluctant to go to the toilet to defecate. This could be a sign your child is experiencing constipation. In order to deal with it immediately, you need to know the signs of constipation in children or babies.

Signs of constipation that should not be ignored

Maybe some parents don't know clearly what the symptoms of constipation are in children. In fact, it is important to know the symptoms of constipation in children as early as possible so that they can be handled immediately.

Here are some symptoms of constipation in children that you need to be aware of.

Defecating less frequently, the frequency of defecating became less than 3-4 times a week
Difficulty defecating or straining frequently
The size of the stool is large and hard
The child looks in pain when defecating
When feeling like defecating, the child refuses to go to the toilet, often stretches his body and crosses his legs, or goes into hiding. Usually this behavior appears as a child toilet training (ages 18-24 months) and when the child starts school.
Kecepirit or encopresis, the discharge of feces in a small amount in the underwear without realizing it
If it happens to a baby, he usually arches his back and cries when defecating

Causes of constipation in children

Maybe you have wondered why children get constipated. Is it only the factor of fiber intake or drinking water that can affect it?

In fact, children who are constipated are not only caused by a lack of fibrous food or not drinking enough water. Several factors also cause constipation in children, including:

1. CHAPTER trauma

When children have experienced pain during defecation, they are discouraged from doing it again. The pain that she had experienced was traumatic.

When a child needs to go to the toilet on his schedule to defecate, he prefers to hold onto defecating so he doesn't have to feel the pain he had previously felt.

2. Toilets are not clean

The comfort and cleanliness of the toilet also affects the desire of children to defecate. School toilets or public toilets that are not clean, make children less comfortable defecating.

Sometimes, children may also feel embarrassed about having to defecate in public toilets or school toilets. This discomfort causes the child to choose to hold back his urge to defecate and lead to constipation.

3. Other health conditions

Constipation in children can also be caused by other health conditions. Several health conditions that cause children to experience constipation, such as abnormal development of the anus, problems with absorption of nutrients in the intestines, disorders of spinal development, and the use of certain drugs. These conditions inhibit bowel movements to push food waste into bowel movements.

If the child does not recover, do this

Parents are certainly worried if your little one's constipation doesn't go away. Constipation generally lasts 3-7 days in school age children. However, if left untreated, the condition can progress to chronic constipation.

Constipation is said to be chronic when the frequency of bowel movements is less than 3 times a week and has lasted for at least 6 months. If so, constipation in your little one needs to be treated immediately so that it doesn't spread to other bad effects.

Here are some ways to treat constipation.

1. Clean out treatment (stool removal therapy)

If the constipation has not resolved, you can give the child laxative suppositories to treat it. This CHAPTER-releasing drug is used by insertion through the rectum. Before using it, first consult a pediatrician.

2. Maintenance treatment (home remedies)

After clean-out treatment, infants and children are usually given laxatives for several months. You can give laxatives with lactulose content. Lactulose helps the absorption of water from the body so that the stool becomes soft. Thus the child can defecate smoothly. Before using it, first consult with a pediatrician.

The use of the correct laxative and the right dose can prevent the risk of constipation in the future and help children form healthy bowel habits. Of course, the use of laxatives must also be balanced with changes in healthy eating patterns to reduce the likelihood of constipation recurring.

So that constipation doesn't come again

Ever constipation sometimes causes fear when you want to defecate on your little one. So that your little one no longer experiences constipation and pain when defecating, there are preventive steps you can take, namely:

Drink lots of water
Fulfill your little one's fiber needs according to the child's age
Exercise regularly or increase physical activity
Start teaching toilet training since the child is at least 18 months old

It is important to familiarize your little one with healthy foods that contain enough fiber. This method can support the digestive health of your little one and keep him from constipation. You can also consult a doctor to find out more about preventing constipation in children.