Constipation in Children

Constipation is a common problem in children. Roughly one in 20 visits children make to a doctor are because of constipation.

What is normal pooping?

An important milestone in the life of a child is learning to poop in the toilet. Different children poop different amounts and number of times each day. Some poop once a day and others may go after every meal (three or so times per day).

The most important aspect of pooping is the character (or softness) of the poop. You can use the Pediatric Bristol Stool Form Scale for Children to determine if your child’s poops are the correct softness. The goal is to poop a Type 3 or a Type 4 on the scale.

Types of constipation in children

There are two main types of constipation, organic and functional.

Organic constipation — Organic constipation is a fancy way of describing when painful poops occur because of a disease. These types of constipation are very rare and might include celiac disease, thyroid problems or other disorders.

Functional constipation — Most children have functional constipation. It can happen when children hold back bowel movements. It also can happen after a child has had a gastrointestinal infection.

How is constipation treated?

Many treatments and strategies exist to help children manage their constipation. While some of these medicines are over the counter (OTC), I recommend that you discuss any treatments with your child’s doctor before starting.

Diet and Hydration:

There is no specific diet that has been shown to be effective in preventing or treating constipation. However, increasing water intake and the use of natural fibers from fruits and vegetables are a healthy option that can be recommended to children. Making sure that children drink enough water every day is crucial
to many bodily functions. It is
important to note that fiber
supplements taken without
enough water can worsen
your child’s constipation!

Stool Softeners and Laxatives:

Talk with your child’s doctor before deciding on a medication. How long does my child need to take their medicines for constipation?

Step 1: The initial cleanout removes the backed-up poop from the body. Usually this requires much higher doses of the medicine over the course of 1-4 days before going to a lower daily dose. The goal of Step 1 is to produce diarrhea because we are evacuating the buildup of poop. The diarrhea will stop when the cleanout
is completed.

Step 2: Maintenance (daily) therapy prevents stool build-up by keeping stool soft thus cutting down on withholding behavior and allowing the colon to return to its normal shape and muscle tone. During this step, it is important to encourage regular bowel movements in the toilet.

Constipation should be treated with maintenance medications for at least two months. After the two-month period is completed, the child should be treated for at least one additional month while they are asymptomatic.

Learn more at LantanaPediatrics.com