In this section you will learn about the treatment for pediatric constipation, home remedies, risk factors, signs and symptoms and complications in pediatric constipation.
Treatment for Pediatric Constipation
According to the circumstances, the doctor may suggest the following treatment options for pediatric constipation:
- Stool softeners or fiber supplements from a pharmacy for treating pediatric constipation. If your child does not intake lots of fiber rich food, adding a pharmacy fiber supplement, like Citrucel or Metamucil might help. Nevertheless, child needs to consume about 1 liter (or 32 ounces.) of water every day for these fiber supplements to work well. Inquire from the doctor about the correct dose for the child according to his weight and age. Glycerin suppositories may be utilized to make the stool soft for those who cannot ingest pills. Talk with the doctor about the proper way to utilize these products.
- An enema or laxative for treating pediatric constipation. If a collection of fecal stuff creates an obstruction, doctor may recommend an enema or laxative to assist remove the obstruction. Examples comprise polyethylene glycol (MiraLax, Glycolax, others) plus mineral oil. Do not give your child an enema or laxative without the doctor’s consent and directions on the correct dose.
- Hospital enema for treating pediatric constipation. At times a kid may be so harshly constipated that he/she requires to be hospitalized to give a stronger enema to clear the bowels. And this is called dissipation.
Following the primary diagnosis, usual scheduled appointments with your doctor should be arranged to make certain that the treatment continues to perform and to avoid relapses of pediatric constipation. The moment a problem grows, call the health care supporter.
Home Remedies for Pediatric Constipation
A number of home remedies can be followed at your house to prevent pediatric constipation from developing into a continuous difficulty or chronic pediatric constipation:
- Helping the child mentally prepare and know about the bowels and bowel movements is a good home remedy for pediatric constipation. Confident reinforcement is the initial step in giving kids the need to begin control of their bowels. It is important to take away any negative feelings about being constipated, in particular if fecal soiling exists.
- The next step of home remedy for pediatric constipation is bowel retraining. Natural reflex of the body is named the gastrocolonic reflex. Following a food intake, the colon goes through peristalsis and efforts to empty the bowels. Is your child taking benefit of the gastrocolonic response following each meal? Is she/ he being in the toilet for about 10 minutes? It is frequently easier for the kid if his feet are on a footstool or on the floor.
- A home remedy for pediatric constipation is to give your kid enough of juices and fluids, like apple juice or prune.
- A balanced diet comprising of whole bran breakfast cereals, vegetables and fruits, (with less dessert and candy) also helps in eliminating pediatric constipation.
- A good home remedy for pediatric constipation is to give enough water and trying 2 to 4 ounces of apple juice (thin with water) or half-strength pear.
- Add two table spoons of baking soda into a warm bath. Allow your kid relax for 5 to 15 minutes, in the bath. This is a useful home remedy for pediatric constipation.
- Rub on a warm, wet cloth into the anus sometimes accelerates bowel actions.
- To accelerate bowel activities, a plastic mop tipped with cotton with a minute amount of Vaseline cream can be smoothly inserted to the anus (but not too far-off, just only the cotton tip) then quickly detached.
Alternative Treatment for Pediatric Constipation
Alternative treatment may assist mitigate pediatric constipation:
- Relaxation tactics can be an alternative treatment for pediatric constipation. Slow and deep breaths might help kids calm down their pelvic ground muscles and conquer anxiety connected to bowel activities.
- Soothing mental pictures can be used as an alternative remedy for pediatric constipation. Thinking about a preferred place or picturing an easy, relax bowel movement might reduce worry about encompassing a bowel activities.
- Massage can be used as an alternative treatment for pediatric constipation. Tenderly massaging your kid’s abdomen possibly will loosen up the muscles that hold the intestines and bladder, helping to advance bowel movements.
- Acupuncture is also a helpful alternative treatment for pediatric constipation. This customary chinese medicine occupies the insertion and handling of minute needles into diverse sections of the body. This therapy possibly will help if your kid possesses pediatric constipation linked abdominal ache.
Risk Factors for Pediatric Constipation
The following are the risk factors for pediatric constipation:
- Pediatric constipation is more possible in children who are inactive.
- Pediatric constipation is common in those who do not eat sufficient fiber.
- Do not drink sufficient fluids
- Take specific medicines, comprising some antidepressants.
- Are suffering from a medical condition which affects the anus/rectum.
- Pediatric constipation is a risk factor for a child with a history of constipation in his family members.
Signs and Symptoms of Pediatric Constipation
Signs and symptoms of pediatric constipation may comprise of:
- Only two or three bowel actions a week is a symptom of pediatric constipation.
- Bowel actions that are dry, hard and not easy to pass are another symptom of pediatric constipation.
- Hurt while possessing a bowel actions/ movements is another sign of pediatric constipation.
- Nausea, abdominal pain is a mild symptom of pediatric constipation.
- Blood on the hard stool surface can be a sign of pediatric constipation.
- Bit of clay-like or liquid stool in kid’s underwear. This is an indication that stool is hold up in the rectum.
In case if a child fears when having a bowel action will hurt, he/she may attempt to stop it. You might notice your child that he is crossing his legs, compressing his buttocks, parody his body, or changing faces through these maneuvers.
What is the Right Time To Consult Doctor for Pediatric Constipation?
Pediatric constipation normally is not serious. Nevertheless, lasting pediatric constipation might lead to problems or indicating an underlying circumstance. If pediatric constipation continues longer than 2 weeks or he is accompanied by the following symptoms take him to a doctor:
- Blood on stools
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Abdominal swelling
- Tears which are painful in the skin near the anus.
- Intestinal overhang out from the anus.
Your doctor might ask you few questions. It is better to be ready to answer those questions in order to save time to move over to points you need to use up more time on. The doctor might ask:
- When did you first notice that your child suffering from pediatric constipation?
- Is it a lasting problem or occasional problem?
- Do you feel that your child is suffering a lot or just a mild pediatric constipation?
- Normally due to what instances your child gets this problem of pediatric constipation?
- Have you identified any circumstances that pediatric constipation get worst?
- Have you notice blood with your Kid’s bowel actions, either mixed with stools, on toilet paper??
- Does your kid debase his underwear?
- Does your kid get injure with bowel actions?
- Can you remember any family history with this problem of pediatric constipation?
- Did you recently get any medicine to your kid, which can lead to pediatric constipation?
- Can you describe the toilet-training experience of your child?
There are many things you can carry out that might assist ease your child’s pediatric constipation prior to doctor’s appointment, for instance:
- Give prune juice to reduce pediatric constipation. Mix with other juices (eg. orange juice) if your kid does not like the prune taste. It is also essential to make sure kids are having sufficient water.
- Identify and cut off constipating foods. Give children less quantity of foods which may lead to pediatric constipation, like cheese and milk.
- If possible, take your kid for a walk. Regular physical actions can support bowel movements and lessens pediatric constipation.
- Delay the toilet training a bit. If you think that toilet training is playing a task in pediatric constipation of your child’s, give a time off from toilet practice for a while to spot whether the pediatric constipation get better.
Complications in Pediatric Constipation
Even if pediatric constipation can be painful, it usually is not critical. If pediatric constipation develops into a recurring situation, conversely, complications may comprise:
- Stool withholding is a complication in pediatric constipation.
- Painful rupture in the skin near the anus (or anal fissures) is a pediatric constipation complication.
- Avoiding bowel actions due to pain, which triggers impacted stool to gather in the colon as well as in rectum and escape out (encopresis.)
Also Read:
- Yoga for Constipation
- Can Constipation Cause Back Pain?
- What is Chronic Idiopathic Constipation and How is it Treated?
- Can Eating Too Much Fiber Make You Constipated?
- Pediatric Constipation: Facts, Causes, Diagnosis
- Benefits of Stomach Massage for Constipation, Gas & Weight Loss
- Pediatric Constipation: Recovery, Prevention, Prognosis, Toilet Training, Lifestyle Changes
- 35 Simple Home Remedies for Frequent Constipation & Tips to Avoid Constipation