Constipation can be risky in infants and children! Causes and treatment of constipation
What is constipation? Constipation is one of the most common problems in children and is defined as a decrease in the frequency of defecation, hard or painful defecation. It is very common, especially in children aged 1-5 years, and can be caused by many different reasons. Constipation in children is usually temporary; Among the most important reasons are early toilet training and diet changes. Constipation in children; Fever, vomiting, blood in the stool, weight loss causes many problems. There are many reasons for not wanting to leave the game, stress, misfeeding and early toilet training. One of the first methods to solve constipation is to provide fiber-rich foods to the child.
To prevent constipation, the child should sit on the toilet. A warm bath or drinks increases the feeling of defecation. After constipation, the child may involuntarily miss poop. In such cases, the child should not be punished. Children between 1-4 years are usually 1-2 times a day and more than 90 percent feces at the latest every other day.
Causes of constipation in children
He can hold his poop to avoid pain
The first cause of chronic constipation is painful bowel movements. In such cases, the child learns to hold his poo to avoid pain. When there is a bowel movement, we can squeeze our muscles for a few minutes and postpone it until the emergency goes away. Adults can prevent bowel movement in any inconvenient situation, but understand that it is necessary to complete toilet requirements as soon as possible.
A child who inhibits bowel movement due to fear of pain prevents repeated defecation by doing this repeatedly. To prevent defecation, he crosses his legs, squeezes his hips and changes his facial expression. Other than that, children delay defecation for many reasons. Among them are reasons such as not wanting to leave the game and go to the toilet in a different place from home.
Punishment of a child without poop control causes constipation
In cases of delaying defecation; a large amount of hard stool accumulates in the rectum. Over time, the rectum expands and becomes less susceptible to tension. Feces are separated and the child unwittingly passes to his underwear. This is inadvertently stained underwear due to fecal incontinence. Sometimes when the colon is constricted, the liquid stool gushes around the hard stool in the rectum, giving the impression that the child with constipation has diarrhea.
In constipation and subsequent stool abduction, children do not have poop control, so they should not be blamed or punished. Therefore, they are ashamed, try to hide their dirty clothes and do not want to change their underwear even though the smell disturbs other family members. They also do not want to go to school because of other children's ridicule or embarrassment.
Feeding causes constipation
There are many reasons for constipation. One of them is early toilet training. This period may become a war between the child and the parent. Voluntary retention can become an involuntary habit. Feeding is also among the conditions that affect constipation. Changes in diet, non-consumption of fiber-rich foods, from a full liquid diet to a solid food-containing regimen may be among the causes of constipation.
Routine changes such as travel, stress, drugs, cow's milk allergy and family history may also be associated with constipation. Whatever the reason, a thorough history screening is required. When constipation starts, daily activities, previous and current toilet habits, frequency of defecation, stool shape, bleeding or not, drugs used, details of the diet should be learned. On examination, abdominal distension, mass or lump, placement of the breech, cracks are seen. In addition, the rectal examination is checked for bleeding. Radiological imaging of the abdomen provides information about the occlusion and the location and amount of feces. According to these findings, it is decided whether further investigations and examinations are needed.
Other problems caused by chronic constipation
Constipation in children is often seen as a temporary and insignificant condition. However, chronic constipation may cause other problems or may be another symptom of an underlying disease. Therefore, if the constipation exceeding two weeks is accompanied by fever, vomiting, blood in the feces, abdominal distension, weight loss, painful tears around the anus (breech), and bowel coming out of the anus, a doctor should be consulted.
Treatment of constipation and good things for constipation
Emptying the Rectum:
Large hard stools in the intestine are softened and minimized. Oral stool softeners function by drawing water to the stool and do not make a habit. They do not enter the blood and do not remain in the intestine for a long time. In rare cases, enemas or suppositories may also be used. These soften the faeces in the lower part of the large intestine and allow them to be cleaned. If the child is severely constipated, he may need to be hospitalized for a short period of time and special evacuation enemas.
Keeping the Rectum Empty
Although bowel movement is considered normal every 2-3 days, this is not the goal for the treatment of children with chronic constipation. These children should have daily defecation, and the defecation should be daily, soft and painless in order not to accumulate fecal mass again in the rectum. Daily bowel movements prevent the accumulation of feces in the rectum again, allowing the large intestine to return to its normal shape and muscle tone.
Intestinal coaches are intended to capture the intended target. The dose of these trainers is different according to each child. The goal is to provide one or two soft stools per day. It can be mixed with fruit juice to facilitate the intake of the actuators. The biggest mistake of the families of children receiving treatment to overcome constipation is to reduce or cut them quickly. In the absence of problems, the dose of the actuator is reduced by 25 percent every 1-2 weeks. If pain occurs again or daily defecation stops, return to the previous dose.
Diet - Food good for constipation
There is no food that causes constipation. There are fiber rich and poor foods. Therefore, nutrients with sufficient fiber should be given. Fiber is most commonly found in fruits, vegetables and cereals such as barley, wheat and corn. Adults should take 25-30 grams of fiber a day. The fiber requirement of the child is found in grams by adding 5 years to the age. Another important point is to ensure adequate fluid intake. Dietary habits must be a healthy and lifelong habit.
To relieve constipation;
Children with toilet training should be provided to sit on the toilet.
The best time for toilet training or sitting is after meals and especially after breakfast. Because the full stomach makes people feel the need to defecate.
A warm drink enhances this feeling.
Sitting in the toilet after a warm bath increases the feeling of defecation.
For small children to sit comfortably in the toilet, it is useful to place a small stool or riser under their feet and have their knees slightly above the hips.
Very young children use potty or face to wall in the toilet to sit more comfortable.
19AXX
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