Often young parents are faced with the appearance. This unpleasant phenomenon can occur in infancy and in older children. We will figure out how to help a child with constipation at home.
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How to know if your baby is constipated
Depending on the age of the baby, there is a norm for how many times he should empty the intestines:
Children's bowel disease should be treated with seriousness, as it can lead to atrophy of the child's intestinal muscle tone, which can cause a problem that can persist for many years! Intestinal constipation in a child. Important: the information is not individualized, so you should consult a nutritionist before starting a diet.
What experts call constipation
The subject discussed so openly is not commonplace. Therefore, when we saw that partners were discussing it, we thought it was important to bring it to the blog. After all, who has never had contact with someone who suffers from constipation or other intestinal symptoms that sometimes interfere with quality of life? Be aware that many of these problems begin in childhood.
- a newborn baby poops 5-8 times a day, depending on the number of feedings;
- at 2 months of life - 3-5 times a day;
- at 3 months - 1-2 times a day;
- 4-6 months - 1 time per day;
- from 6 months to 2 years - 1-3 times a day;
- after 2 years - 1 time in 1-3 days.
If your child poops less often, then he has constipation. The baby may complain of abdominal pain. During a bowel movement, the baby is pushing, the process is difficult. The stool becomes hard, of an unusual consistency or color.
Sigmund Freud, an Austrian psychoanalyst, studied what he called the "anal phase" experienced by a child, usually two to four years old, when he discovers that he can control urine and poop, what pleases him is what she does by her own. This pleasure justifies, for example, children playing with faeces. For us who take care of them, the feces are dirty, which doesn't matter.
We end up "hiding" this topic from our conversations with the child. Speaking of women now, how often do they avoid evacuating to toilets outside the home? Or, nevertheless, they are ashamed to do so if their partner is around, as if the evacuation was something very bad for their image. How much does our culture influence us on these issues? Therefore, as parents and educators, it is important to consider whether we are feeding these taboos with our children. If so, maybe it's time to change.
Causes of constipation in children
There are many reasons for the development of problems with the stool. It can be:
- irrational nutrition;
- the presence of intestinal pathologies;
- insufficient fluid intake;
- taking antibiotics;
- food allergy;
- lack of iron;
- thyroid disease;
- psychological factors.
Important! All children should drink plain water to avoid intestinal problems. Juices, compotes, teas cannot replace it.
Nothing collective should be applied in childhood. It is born when adults offer something for which this child is not ready. Intestinal constipation or wetting the bed for a long time leaves traces. The feeling of not being able to do what other kids are doing, as if it's an obligation to be able to do it, is even worse.
Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the treatment of constipation in children
Once again, we remember that we are a guide for children. That is, if making stern for us is something full of mystery and modesty, so a child can also become like that. Going to the bathroom and leaving the door open so the baby comes in and out, for example, can help demystify the topic.
On the artificial feeding constipation is not uncommon. Often the baby is not given enough water, which should ensure proper bowel function. Also, the baby may not be suitable for feeding mixture. Try to change it, then the chair should improve.
Constipation in a child who is breastfed may appear from malnutrition of the mother. It is not uncommon for difficulties with bowel movements to occur after the introduction of complementary foods, or when they abruptly switched from breast milk to formula.
Can't do it yet? After all, you probably experienced this taboo as a child too. But if you want to discuss this issue with your children, follow these tips. The Coconut is a Natural History of the Unspeakable, by Nicolas Davies with illustrations by Neil Leighton. Coconut on the throne, Benoit Charlat. . Reading these books with the help of small ones is a good way to start breaking paradigms.
Does it have to be like this every year? The time has come for them, and the next two months will be the toughest for those most sensitive to pollen. Itching, runny nose, coughing and often leading to asthma or skin reactions. The secret, as we all know, is understanding the symptoms and not hindering them. First of all, it is necessary to clarify: equal symptoms can have different causes, which happens with colds and allergic diseases. Sneezing, stuffy nose and coughing are known symptoms of constipation. They are signs that the body is fighting a virus, but they can also be the result of overprotection caused by allergies, says Mario Morais de Almeida.
Important! Constipation can be caused by lactose deficiency when parents begin to boil cereals with cow's milk.
What to do if a child has constipation
How to help your child go to the toilet for the most part? First of all, you need to understand the causes of the problem. Given all the factors, it is important to choose the right means for treatment and take care of prevention:
That is, if in the first case they occur due to the fact that the body is focused on fighting the enemy, for example, with an allergy to pollen, the nose drips to clear the particles. Then cover them up so they don't come in. If the symptoms continue for several weeks, if they recur at the same time of the year - in spring with pollen, in autumn with mites, or, for example, when moving to a friend's house with cats - the doctor recommends. If allergies are different from colds, you won't be able to use your pocket wisdom to heal.
So if you use a medicine when you have the flu, it won't solve anything. And here's another common mistake: if you have small bouts of sneezing and a runny nose, and you take an antihistamine once or twice on credit from a friend who was with the doctor, there may be no problem. But Mario Morais de Almeida warns that self-medication for allergic diseases, as in other areas, can be very dangerous. Anti-inflammatory drugs and antihistamines can interact with other medications you may be taking, such as antibiotics or antifungals, and cause more harm than good.
- reconsider the diet of the crumbs;
- drink enough water;
- to stimulate the work of the intestine;
- the child must be active;
- medical treatment.
Important! You can not often stimulate a bowel movement in a child. This can be addictive, as a result, he will not be able to go to the toilet without outside help.
And people with heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease will always need a prescription treatment for your case. In some cases, doctors may prescribe sedative antihistamines, which in most cases should not be performed. Warns the doctor, information about the method of administration and the danger of drowsiness. “Every year we have accidents on the road and work, for example, approaches to scaffolding or people who cut their fingers due to this effect.”
This is another case where a drug can do more harm than good. "A vasoconstrictor should be used for a maximum of two to three days, because after this period drops can cause serious reactions to the nasal mucosa and even chemical rhinitis." Another product that is recommended against are creams or gels with antihistamine properties, which are used, for example, for insect bites. They are shown to be able to do even worse reactions and have no effectiveness, so they should only be that way.
If your baby often has problems with bowel movements, do not give him products that hold the stool together. These include eggs, rice, baked goods. Don't make food too soft or runny. Sometimes do not cook the porridge to the end, let the child eat a whole apple.
Folk remedies for constipation
Cause allergies only when attacked. If you have a minor reaction, relief medication may make your life easier. But it will likely get worse over time. For proper control, prevention should begin weeks or months earlier, when it is possible to accurately perceive that a person has an allergy, and make a vaccine to desensitize the body. In the case of pollen, if you have symptoms, and it's not even the first time, it's best to make an appointment with an expert in the fall so that, if a vaccine is needed, it can take effect in the spring.
How to treat constipation in children
When stool problems are caused by poor diet or other factors that are not associated with serious diseases, an enema can be given.
The volume of the enema depends on the age of the child:
- newborn - 20-30 ml;
- baby 1-3 months - up to 40 ml;
- child 3-6 months - 70-90 ml;
- after 6 months to 1 year - 150 ml;
- after 1 year - 200 ml.
An enema is put from simple boiled water. After the first portion of the liquid, a complete bowel movement may occur.
If your problem is related to ticks, which tend to attack more often in the fall, you can vaccinate at any time of the year. This is another fairly common mistake that can get expensive. Often the first signs of asthma occur in young children, sometimes even before two or three years of age, and parents, with the misconception that it goes away with age, let them go without consulting a doctor. "Families don't get quiet nights because of coughs, parents have to miss work and kids have to go to school," says Mario Morais de Almeida.
Pollen, like other allergens, can trigger asthma attacks. Therefore, if you notice mild fatigue, coughing, watery eyes, and typical asthmatic breathing that looks like a cat to meow, see a doctor. “In Portugal, one third of children with asthma are already hospitalized, and this is only due to the delay in diagnosing and managing this disease.”
Important! The water you use for the enema should be room temperature. Warm liquid can provoke intestinal absorption harmful substances that have formed in it.
If the enema does not help, seek medical advice. You can use pharmaceutical preparation Microlax, which has a viscous consistency and is administered rectally. It produces a laxative effect, will help the baby to empty the intestines. 
If you are allergic to pollen and cannot handle sneezing, the windows of your home should not be opened during this time of year. You should only release air at lunchtime or at night. Morning and late afternoon when there is more pollen to circulate with the wind.
Again, it's a matter of ignoring for your health all the household advice you might have given him, such as staying in bed at home. If you suffer from or suspect a mite allergy, it should be left open to cool for at least two hours. If you don't stand a chance, you'd better do it only at the end of the day, says Mario Morais de Almeida.
Constipation in a month old baby, what to do first
To prevent problems with stool, improve digestion in baby It is necessary to lay the baby on the tummy before each feeding.
It is recommended to massage the baby. Gently press your palm to your stomach, move your hand in a circle in a clockwise direction. You can lay the crumbs on yourself. Your body heat will stimulate the baby's bowels.
Steps to relieve constipation in a child
It is often believed that only when you have an allergy to a certain food should you be careful. The explanation is simple: When our immune system has to fight off these aggressions and processed foods, we become more inflamed and have metabolic problems that further exacerbate allergy-induced inflammation. Whether patients with asthma or milder reactions to pollen, being at home to avoid trouble is far from a solution. Physical activity improves the progression of the disease, and a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are risk factors, the specialist explains.
Important! If the baby has problems with emptying, do not give him any drugs for gas (Smecta, Espumizan). They can reduce intestinal motility.
If all these methods were useless, try to mechanically act on the sphincter to make the crumbs want to empty the intestines. To do this, you can use several methods:
So during times of increased pollen activity, great care should be taken before going for a run or hike. You should avoid peak pollen hours, choose areas closer to the sea if you have a chance of doing so, and you can make medicine to facilitate prevention by taking antihistamines and other medicines prescribed by your doctor one or two hours before the start. activities.
If you still don't know exactly who's allergic, you might already have an idea. Beautiful flowers, such as daisies or roses, do not provoke allergies because they are pollinated by insects. Typically, the problem is in more discrete plants, where pollination is carried out by the wind, the doctor explains. In Portugal, the pollen that affects most people is olive trees, hay and parietria, wall grass, also known as snake grass. Another common mistake is to think that cotton balls that cover cars this time of year are evil. "These white flakes and generally all visible particles do not cause allergies, because they are already the seeds of trees."
- use a thermometer to be inserted into the anus;
- soak a cotton swab in baby oil and insert into the anus. Twist it a little, stimulating emptying;
- use the gas tube.
Important! Do not inject soap into your baby's rectum. This can cause a burn of the mucous membrane due to the alkali contained in it.
These are pollen that we cannot see and which, because they are smaller, more easily penetrate the eyes or the mucous membranes of the nose, which can be more aggressive. “In the Alentejo there are more high levels pollen, but in Lisbon we have more allergic diseases,” says Mario Morais de Almeida. This is a paradox, but one that has been well studied. In cities, pollen reacts with pollution and particulate matter - diesel combustion in particular - changes their configuration. “They become more aggressive in immunological conditions, penetrating more into the respiratory tract,” explains the doctor.
You can also use glycerin suppositories, which are not absorbed by the intestines and are completely safe for babies.
What to give a child for constipation
If all the above methods do not help, you can resort to drug treatment. The drugs should be taken in a course of no more than 2 weeks, so as not to be addictive. This is rather a forced measure to restore normal bowel function, but not the norm.
- mild laxative (Duphalac, Microlax, Senade, glycerin suppositories);
- prokinetics - stimulate the intestines, forcing it to empty itself. These funds include Domperidone, Motilak;
- enzymes - help digest food. These are Creon, Mezim, Panzinorm;
- antispasmodics - reduce pain. For example, No-shpa, Papaverine.
- choleretic drugs (Hofitol) - improves digestion, as a result, food is absorbed better and excreted from the body without much effort;
- probiotics - establish normal intestinal microflora, relieve dysbacteriosis. These include Linex, Acipol, Hilak Forte.
Important! For infants, lactulose-containing products, such as Dufalac, are effective. You need to start taking this drug with a dose of 5 ml.
Folk remedies
It is not always necessary to resort to medications to treat bowel problems. No less effective recipes traditional medicine.
Thyme
Thyme tea will help improve bowel function, eliminate fermentation processes, and improve appetite. It is very easy to prepare it.
- Pour half a teaspoon of grass with 0.5 liters of water, boil and leave for 10 minutes.
- Take the remedy several times a day. If the child does not want to drink thyme tea, add a spoonful of honey to it.
Important! Tea containing thyme will also help to cope with a strong cough.
Linseed oil
It is consumed in the morning before breakfast, 0.5 tsp. You can also mix 1 tsp before going to bed. oils with the same amount of honey. Add this mixture to yogurt and give your baby before bed.
Effective remedies for the treatment of constipation are freshly squeezed juices from beets, carrots. You can give them to babies in the form of complementary foods in a few drops, and older children - 50-100 ml each. It is best not to use them in pure form and diluted 1:2 with water.
Constipation can occur in any child, regardless of age. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to engage in the prevention of this delicate issue, reconsider the diet of the child, give the baby to drink plain water. When all else fails, you can use traditional medicine recipes or medications.
Dr. Komarovsky will tell you in detail what constipation is in children, and how to help the child. Watch the video below.
Constipation in children: a modern program of diagnosis and treatment
in children, this is a fairly common complaint. The factors that provoke constipation are very diverse: an unbalanced menu, alimentary, inflammation anus, psychological stress. In the event that the baby regularly suffers from constipation that does not disappear on its own, you should visit and pass all the necessary tests. The therapy of this disease in children of different ages is to get rid of the factor that causes the disease, the use of drugs to normalize the intestinal microflora, as well as the use of laxatives and enemas.
How common is this?
Constipation is very common in children. There is evidence that among babies under the age of one year, this phenomenon is observed in twenty percent, and in toddlers - preschoolers or schoolchildren in twenty-five percent.
What is constipation?
The vast majority of people will be surprised by such a question, because this seems to be a well-known concept. But according to pediatricians, not all moms and dads really have an idea of what constipation is.
Constipation is a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements below age physiological norms, too strong attempts or defecation using special methods of emptying the rectum, a feeling of incomplete defecation, or too hard feces.
Age physiological norms for the frequency of defecation
Why does constipation develop in babies?
Factors that provoke constipation in babies are quite diverse. Data from practitioners suggests that constipation in babies under the age of one year is provoked by organic factors ( , lactase deficiency or congenital disorders of the bowel). In patients after a year, constipation is most often provoked psychological reasons (uncomfortable potty or toilet, moving to another apartment). The following are the most common causes of this disease in babies.
The main causes of constipation in infants, as well as the first year of life
1.
An unbalanced menu or a sudden change in the usual menu: translation from breastfeeding on milk mixtures, allergic reactions to cow or goat milk.
2.
Lactase deficiency causes a decrease pH bowel, contraction of the bowel muscles, and irritation of the rectum. These changes cause congestion in the intestines.
3.
Irritation of the skin of the anus, caused by diaper or excessive use of unsuitable cosmetics.
4.
Cracks in the rectum provoke a spasm of the anal sphincter, and the baby has a fear of defecation. A sign of an anal fissure is small inclusions of scarlet blood on the feces, the appearance of blood spots on the panties, as well as the abnormal behavior of the baby during the bowel movement.
5.
Too rude attempts to force the baby to go to the potty sometimes causes psychogenic constipation.
6.
Violation in the formation of the intestine
Congenital causes of constipation in infants and under the age of one year
| Name of the disease | Description | Manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| rectal atresia | The membrane that covers the anus is preserved. Anus atresia is observed in two to five cases out of ten thousand just born babies. The factor causing atresia, according to doctors, are hereditary disorders | Signs of atresia appear on the first day - two from the birth of the baby. The main sign of a violation is the stagnation of the original feces, as well as the capriciousness of the baby and unwillingness to eat. |
| Congenital narrowing of the rectum | Found along the entire length of the intestine up to the anus | If the narrowing is very severe, the signs may be similar to those of atresia. If the narrowing is not too pronounced, then the baby has constant constipation. |
| Doubling of the rectum | The walls of the rectum either bifurcate, or a bag-like protrusion forms on them | In the event that the protrusion is very large, in some cases it compresses the intestine, which provokes constipation, threatening even intestinal obstruction |
| Ectopic anus | The anal passage is in a non-physiological place ( anus displacement) | Sometimes causes no symptoms, sometimes causes fistula or chronic constipation |
| Neoplasms and cysts of the rectum | May appear due to non-physiological migration of embryonic cells during the intrauterine period | Possible constipation of varying degrees |
| Hirschsprung disease | During fetal development, the nerve plexuses of the large intestine are formed incorrectly, in addition, its inner diameter is too large | The main symptom of Hirschsprung's disease is chronic constipation. |
It is known that violations of the formation of the intestine in only five percent of infants cause constipation. Almost all violations of the formation of the large intestine and the anus are detected in the first weeks after the birth of the baby and are eliminated only by surgical methods.
The main causes of constipation in children aged 2 - 5 years, as well as schoolchildren
1.
Poor sanitary conditions in the childcare facility, as well as the embarrassment of the baby to go to the toilet at school or in kindergarten. To prevent such factors from affecting bowel movements, it is advisable to schedule bowel movements in such a way that they fall within the hours of being at home.
2.
Change of apartment, long-term stay in a strange house, as well as moving.
3.
Inflammatory processes anal opening and tissues adjacent to it, anal fissures, fistulas bring great pain and cause psychological stress during defecation. Inflammation of the anus and adjacent tissues often occurs with an increase in temperature.
4.
An illiterate menu is a lack of fluid, as well as the use of easily digestible carbohydrates, as well as a small amount of vegetable fibers.
5.
The use of certain medications iron preparations).
Definition of constipation in children
Special examinations are not needed only when constipation in a baby is caused by psychogenic causes ( travel, being away from home), and is also chronic ( difficulties with bowel movements occur periodically and do not disappear without the use of special drugs). In all other cases, it is necessary to make a thorough examination of the baby, consisting of the following procedures:
- examination of a small patient and a conversation with him ( if age allows)
- ultrasound examination of internal organs
- esophagogastroduodenoscopy
- laboratory analysis of urine
- laboratory study of feces
- bowel x-ray
Before starting therapy, you should make sure that the baby is actually sick, and also find the factor that causes the disease. Therapy for constipation in babies is selected depending on the factor that causes it, as well as on the age of the patient. It is allowed to neglect the advice of a pediatrician only in cases where episodes of constipation are infrequent, and the disease is not chronic.
Therapy of constipation in children from birth to a year
Therapy of constipation in children with food allergies
Due to the fact that the main factor causing constipation in infants is food allergy, the main method of its therapy is the elimination of the allergen from the child's menu, as well as ensuring competent feeding of the baby and his mother ( if the baby is a baby).
The main product that causes allergies and constipation in such crumbs is cow's milk, as well as its derivatives. Sometimes it happens allergic reaction for goat milk. Therefore, the main way to treat allergies and constipation is the complete elimination of whole cow's milk from the child's menu. When the baby is feeding breast milk, nuts, fish, eggs, seafood, gluten-containing foods and other allergens should be removed from the mother's menu.
Constipation in babies with lactose intolerance
Lactase deficiency expressed as a decrease ( or termination) production of the lactase enzyme, which digests milk sugar. If this enzyme is not in the body, then milk sugar is not processed.
The main way to treat constipation in babies with this disease is to feed it with artificial mixtures that do not contain lactose or made from soy ( Humana SL, Nutrilon-soy).
Today, in the treatment of constipation in babies, it is often prescribed prebiotic lactulose (prelax, duphalac, lactusan ). Lactulose is not processed in the intestines, but it is food for beneficial microorganisms that inhabit the baby's intestines. Therefore, lactulose helps to restore the biological balance in the intestine during dysbacteriosis. Lactulose also prevents the removal of fluid from the feces, which makes them less rigid, facilitating evacuation. The prebiotic quality of duphalac is most valuable in the treatment of constipation in babies, because one of the main causes of constipation in babies under one year old is dysbacteriosis.
Therapy of constipation in children 2 - 6 years old and schoolchildren
The treatment of constipation in children of this age group should be started only with the regulation of the regimen, as well as the establishment proper routine day. One of the main conditions is to teach the baby to defecate at home. Then in children's institutions he will not need to ask and endure. In the event that the baby has constipation, you need to try to find its cause. During the conversation with the baby, you need to keep in mind that not all children can speak frankly about such things with their parents. To eliminate a single case of constipation in a baby, you can use a laxative.
Medicines to treat constipation in children (laxatives)
Used in the treatment of constipation in children different types laxative drugs. It must be said that the vast majority of laxatives do not relieve the factor that causes constipation, but only help to eliminate stool congestion. It is also necessary to know that the constant use of these drugs can harm the baby. In this regard, in the treatment of constipation in babies, laxatives are used only after getting rid of the root cause that caused the disease and only as a temporary help. If constipation in a baby is observed periodically and the need for laxatives appears frequently, this indicates the need to consult a pediatrician. Next, a table will be attached that lists the most commonly used and effective laxatives that are allowed to be used for therapy in babies.
| Name of remedy for constipation | How does it work? | Dosage |
|---|---|---|
| Lactulose-based preparations: lactusan, duphalac, prelax | Restores the biological balance in the intestines, helps to increase the population of friendly microorganisms, makes the fecal matter softer and helps its evacuation | Babies after six years on the first day - two as a therapy for 20 or 30 milliliters of duphalac, after which 10 - 15 milliliters once a day with food. For babies under the age of six, dufalac is prescribed ten to fifteen milliliters once a day ( after breakfast). Duration of therapy fourteen to twenty days |
| Macrogol ( transipeg, children's forlax) | Soften stools and help evacuate them by increasing their water content | Babies after a year should use one or two sachets at breakfast. Before use, the powder from the sachet is diluted with a small volume of slightly warmed water. Laxative effect begins 24-48 hours after ingestion |
| Mebeverine ( duspatalin) | Relaxes the walls of the intestines, helps to promote bowel movements | Children from twelve years of age are prescribed one capsule twice a day twenty to thirty minutes before a meal. |
| Hyoscine butyl bromide ( buscopan) | Relaxes the intestinal walls and aids in the movement of stools | Babies under one year old take five milligrams orally twice or thrice a day, or one suppository of 7.5 milligrams up to five times a day. Babies 1 to 6 years old, five to ten milligrams orally or 7.5 milligrams suppository three to five times a day Patients older than six years: ten to twenty milligrams three times a day with water |
The use of enemas in the treatment of constipation in children
Until recently, enemas were often used in the treatment of constipation in babies. Of all the varieties, enemas with soap or salt were more widely prescribed, provoking irritation of the intestinal walls and pain.
Today, there are many effective and harmless drugs for the body of babies. Therefore, the need for this procedure was eliminated.
Enemas are still used today as an emergency aid for a baby who can’t go to the toilet “for the most part” and a lot of hardened feces have collected in the body. In such situations, to make the feces less rigid, you can make a microclyster.
For its implementation, take ten to fifteen milliliters of slightly warmed boiled water or chamomile decoction. The liquid is injected using a pear; before inserting the tip, it must be treated with cream or petroleum jelly. The enema should be carried out as carefully as possible so as not to damage the rectal mucosa. It is forbidden to do an enema with the active resistance of the baby. In this case, constipation can become even stronger.
Nutrition in the treatment of constipation in children
Quite often, the cause of constipation in a baby becomes an unbalanced menu, eating a number of drugs or foods ( iron preparations, currants, raspberries). Such constipation usually goes away on its own with a change in the nature of the diet or the withdrawal of the drug that provokes constipation.
For any reason that causes constipation in infants and schoolchildren ( especially for chronic constipation), you need to feed the child in accordance with medical recommendations.
When is constipation a life-threatening condition?
In babies of any age, but more often in infants, acute constipation often indicates intestinal obstruction, as well as other disorders that are life-threatening for the baby. The main symptom of intestinal obstruction in babies is the lack of bowel movements, as well as the removal of gases, vomiting and deterioration in general well-being.
In this regard, in the event that it is not possible to eliminate constipation on our own, or if the baby's health is deteriorating rapidly, you should urgently call an ambulance!