Nutritional care for children with constipation

Children with constipation is a common condition that worries many parents. So what should children with constipation eat, nutritional care for children with constipation how to stay healthy?

Children with constipation is a condition in which a child has difficulty in defecation, solid or large stools causing pain when passing stools and the frequency of bowel movements decreases, specifically:
Newborns: defecate less than 2 times/ day. Breastfeeding children: defecate less than 3 times / week, more than 2 times / time. Older children: defecate less than 2 times/week, more than 3 days/time. Children with constipation can cause some of the following consequences if not treated:
Anorexia , stunting, growth retardation, malnutrition. Bloating, indigestion, bloating, or vomiting. Rectal prolapse due to straining or sitting for a long time while defecating. Anal bleeding due to straining, dry hard stools.

There are many causes of constipation in children, some of the main causes of children being constipated are as follows:
Due to diet: eating too little, not eating enough, eating less fiber, not eating vegetables fruits, eat a lot of protein, drink less water, drink formula that is too thick or mixed in the wrong ratio, instructions. Due to drugs: calcium, iron, antibiotics,... Due to systemic diseases: anemia, rickets, malnutrition. Due to digestive diseases: colon enlargement, intestinal stenosis, intestinal obstruction, anal stenosis, colon stenosis, congenital anal fissures, congenital anal malformations,... Due to neurological disease: congenital encephalopathy , cerebral palsy , sacral lesions , meningeal hernia .

Based on the shape of stool: Constipated children have stools that are hard, lumpy, granular, long like a sausage, with broken lines or soft and smooth; or stools may also be soft and spongy, but sporadic; or just water. Clinical examination showed that the child had an anal fissure, a hard mass was palpable. Symptoms: Children feel pain when defecating, are afraid or hold back bowel movements because of pain.

Depending on the cause of constipation, there will be different treatment methods. However, it is necessary to take care of nutrition for children with constipation with the following regime:
Eat enough, enough meals every day. Eat a lot of fiber from fruits and vegetables: Most vegetables provide a large amount of fiber, some of which are also able to support bowel movements and help laxatives such as amaranth, spinach, vegetables. sweet potatoes, oranges, grapefruits, bananas, papayas,... Shouldn't eat some fruits and tubers that can cause constipation such as carrots, sapodilla,... Drink enough water: For children with constipation, Drinking enough water is very important to help overcome constipation. However, it should be noted that children under 6 months of age and exclusively breastfed do not need to drink more water. Instead, the mother needs to change her diet, increase fiber from vegetables and fruits, drink lots of water, limit substances that are stimulant and cause dehydration. For children aged 6 - 12 months old and eating solid foods, drink 200 - 300ml of water/day; children 1 - 3 years old, drink 500 - 600ml of water/day; children 3-5 years old, drink 1 liter of water/day; children 6 - 10 years old, drink 1.2 - 1.5 liters of water/day; Older children over 10 years old, drink 1.5-2 liters of water/day equivalent to adults. For babies who are constipated from using formula milk, it is possible to change the type of milk with added and fortified fiber or intestinal enzymes. Drink more juice or green vegetables. Nutrition care for children with constipation needs to let them drink enough water, eat a lot of fiber such as fruits and vegetables, which will limit and overcome constipation. Constipation is a condition that many children suffer from, especially during the period when they start eating solid foods. Therefore, parents need to know the symptoms and have a suitable adjusted diet. If long-term constipation makes the child anorexic and uncomfortable, it is necessary to take the child to the medical center for examination and treatment, to avoid dangerous complications that may occur.
In order to limit the child's constipation as well as the use of antibiotics, parents should pay attention to the nutrition that improves the child's resistance. At the same time, supplementing with supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins, etc., helps support the immune system, strengthens resistance so that children are less sick and less likely to have digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
The role of zinc - Guidelines for reasonable zinc supplementation
Please visit the website Vinmec.com regularly and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.