Constipation in toddlers

Article written by MSc Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

It can be very difficult for a child to struggle with constipation. But most children improve their constipation just by eating right and practicing hygiene consistently.

Passing stools less than three times a week, having difficulty passing stools or having large hard stools, all of these can be called constipation. Basically, constipation is an irregular and irregular bowel movement that lasts more than two months in older children and three weeks in younger children.

Constipation in children can be caused by the abnormal position or size of the anal opening, by medications used for prolonged diarrhea, or by congenital colon disease.
However, it is most often due to bad eating habits and bowel habits. In 95-98% of children over two years of age, constipation is caused by an unreasonable daily diet.
Other causes include medication such as Codeine, cough medicine. In some toddlers, a spinal cord disease, injury, or tumor can affect the nerves and cause constipation and/or urinary incontinence.

Constipation is not just a problem in itself; it can also be the cause of other problems, like bedwetting. As stool accumulates in a child's rectum, the rectum begins to push against the bladder, causing bladder irritation. This happens more at night. 72% of children with both constipation and bedwetting after treatment for constipation can stop bedwetting.

The first thing to do is to record the duration and severity of your child's constipation. The medical history along with the doctor's examination will help confirm whether the child has pathological constipation. If you have a medical condition, your doctor will prescribe a daily enemas for a few days followed by an oral laxative or a high-dose laxative, depending on your child's age and weight. Children can take it for 1-2 weeks then use a maintenance dose for a period of time to 6-9 months.
The main focus will be on changing the child's diet. Good foods for children with constipation: Prune juice, Whole wheat/wheat bread, whole grains, fresh fruit (peach, plum, pear, orange, fig, papaya, apricot, etc.), fresh vegetables , salad...
The regimen should be strictly followed and neither parent nor child should be changed in any way.

You must start to practice bowel movements, urination for children, usually 2 years. Be patient, invest time and effort in the process, and don't rely on the maid. Don't lose your temper or yell at your child during this process. Defecation training should begin with teaching your child to sit on the potty at a fixed time in the morning. Do not give your child too much fast food, cookies, waffles, chips, etc. Give your child a gap of about four hours between meals, avoiding snacking

As a key area of ​​Vinmec Medical system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All are well-trained, professional, with a mind - range, understanding young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.