Customer question:
What causes constipation in a child? Anonymous customer's question
Pharmacist's answer:
Constipation in children is a common problem. Common causes include early toilet training and changes in diet. Fortunately, most cases of constipation in children are transient. Encouraging your child to make simple dietary changes – eating more fiber through fruits and vegetables and drinking more water can help alleviate this type of constipation.
Many factors can contribute to constipation in children, including:
- by frequently ignoring the urge to pass stool
- problems with toilet training
- changes in diet
- changes in the routine
- taking certain medicines
- allergies to cow's milk
- family history
- certain medical conditions
Constipation in children is more likely to affect children who are sedentary (lack of exercise), do not eat enough fiber, do not drink enough fluids, take certain medications, including some antidepressants, have a medical condition that affects the condition of the anus or rectum, or but they have a neurological disorder.
Constipation in children is usually not severe, but chronic constipation can cause complications or signal an underlying condition. Take your child to the doctor if constipation lasts longer than two weeks or is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- fever
- loss of appetite
- blood in stool
- abdominal bloating
- weight loss
- pain during bowel movement
- part of the intestine that comes out of the anus (rectal prolapse)
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