Pediatric constipation

What is pediatric constipation?

When a child is constipated, a stool stays in their colon for too long. When this happens, the colon absorbs the fluid from the stool, which hardens the stool and makes it difficult to pass.

Children with constipation often experience:

• Bowel movements with dry, hard or small stools

• Less than two bowel movements in a week

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric constipation?

• Abdominal pain

• Bloating

• Fecal impaction (large amount of stool in rectum) leaking into child’s underwear

• Encopresis

• Uncontrolled urination (urinary incontinence)

• Posture changes

• Blood in stool

• Constipation (lasting longer than two weeks)

• Fever

• Not responsive to oral constipation medicine

• Swollen abdomen

• Vomiting

• Weight loss

What are the causes of pediatric constipation?

Constipation can occur due to a variety of reasons, including:

• Not enough fiber in the child’s diet

• Side effects from the child’s medication

How is pediatric constipation treated?

• Diet

• Rectal suction biopsy