Constipation occurs when a child has difficulty passing stools, either by having hard poo (faeces or bowel movements) or not going to the toilet regularly. It is a common issue in children, particularly during toilet training or following a painful or frightening bowel movement.
Constipation can lead to various symptoms, including stomach cramps, decreased appetite, irritable behaviour, and anal fissures (small splits in the skin around the anus) that cause pain and bleeding during bowel movements. Straining to pass large, hard stools can also result in these fissures. Children may develop holding-on behaviours to avoid the pain of passing stools, such as squatting, crossing their legs, or refusing to sit on the toilet.
Long-term constipation can cause soiling in pants, medically known as encopresis or faecal incontinence. This happens when the rectum becomes stretched from being full of stool for an extended period, reducing the urge to go to the toilet. As a result, stool may pass into the child’s pants without them realising it.
The causes of constipation can vary, ranging from simple behavioural issues to dietary factors like cow’s milk protein intolerance, or even conditions such as Hirschsprung’s disease.
At Tiny Tots Paediatrics, our team of specialists offers comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and management of constipation. We take the time to educate families on how to manage constipation at home, providing practical strategies and support to help children overcome this uncomfortable and sometimes distressing condition.
Our approach is holistic, involving collaboration with allied health professionals such as dietitians and psychologists to address any underlying behavioural or dietary factors. We are dedicated to helping children achieve regular, pain-free bowel movements and improving their overall quality of life.
