Constipation is when a child has a hard poo (faeces or bowel movement) or does not go to the toilet regularly. Constipation is a common problem in children, particularly around the time of toilet training or after a painful or frightening bowel movement
Constipation can cause stomach cramps, decreased appetite, irritable behaviour, anal fissures (small splits of the skin at the anus/bottom) which cause pain and bleeding at the anus when doing a poo. Straining (pushing hard) to pass a large, hard poo can cause anal fissures. Holding-on behaviour to avoid doing a painful poo, such as squatting, crossing legs or refusing to sit on the toilet.
Long-term constipation can cause soiling in pants – your child’s rectum (bottom) may be full of poo for a long time and this makes it become stretched. Your child may not get the urge to go to the toilet because the rectum always feels stretched. The poo can then pass into your child’s pants, without them feeling it. Soiling is medically called encopresis or faecal incontinence.
Causes of constipation can range from simple behavioural issues to cow’s protein to conditions like Hirschsprung’s disease. Dr Sanjeev Gupta provides comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and management of constipation. He spends lot time educating families how to manage constipation at home.
