Child Constipation and Ways In Which It Can Be Treated
If you think your child has constipation just because they have infrequent stools then you should stop and think again. Having irregular stools does not mean they have child constipation although the condition is actually characterized by erratic bowel movements.
Constipation in a child could be because of their diet being wrong or it is deficient in something. It may be because they are not getting enough fluids or that they have a problematic colon and those children who have too many refined foods in their diet may well suffer from constipation.
Normally a child suffering from constipation will have very dry and hard stools because the colon is not functioning as it should and it is taking too much water out of the stools and making them dark and hard. This then results in the child suffering from constipation.
Those children who have been breast fed do not really suffer from constipation because they absorb nearly all of the milk and so very little residue is left over to enter the colon. Although your child may not be releasing their waste as often as you think they should it does not mean that they are constipated. But even when they are doing a lot of grunting and forcing when having a bowel movement a parent should not be overly alarmed as often the child’s anus is still a little taut and will need some more stretching before a stool is released.
However, those children who are fed on formula will often get constipation as there will be some milk residue left in the colon. Also when children progress on to solid foods because of the change in their diets they will be more prone to suffering from constipation at this time.
If however when your child is having regularly amounts of discomfort then they are trying to pass a stool it would be wise to visit your doctor and let him examine your child to see if there is any possible reason (such as an obstruction of the anus) which may be causing the constipation.
The best way to avoid and also treat constipation in a child is to improve their diet. The use of fruit juices such as apple or prune are great for helping to soften and loosen stool movements.
But when treating child constipation the best thing any parent can do is contact their doctor and discuss with them what they feel is the best option.
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