Constipation is a condition of improper bowel movement.
Usually the child experiences pain and has a hard time
passing dry and hard stool. In normal condition there is
no pain while passing the stool and it has a soft
texture. The bowel movement is also regular. A child
having constipation not only finds it difficult to pass
stool, but at times will feel the urge to pass and when
he goes to the toilet, he cannot relive himself.
The digestive system is responsible from the intake of
the food to the smooth passage of waste. The food or
fluids are consumed from the mouth, which heads towards
the stomach via the food pipe. After the stomach treats
the food with acid, it passes on to the small intestines
and then to the large intestines, also known as bowels.
The final stage of food digestion is the outlet through
of the waste through the anus and rectum. During the
whole processing, the body parts absorb nutrients and
water from the food supplied to them. The left over
matter comes out as waste.
It is a myth among some people who say that an
individual is constipated if he or she doesn’t pass
stool on a daily basis. But the truth is that the
bathroom habit differs from one individual to other. So
if constipation is to be checked the regular pattern of
bathroom habit of that particular individual must be
checked and the comparisons must not be made with the
other.
Other than not passing stool regularly, the child feels
full most of the times and is a little uncomfortable.
The belly can also feel stretched because of the full
feeling. The child makes great effort to pass and the
experience is very painful. Even after passing, the
child may feel the urge of passing more stools. Because
of the hard stool, it cause small tears in the anus skin
and there will be little blood on the toilet paper. The
child should immediately tell this to his parents, who
can take care of the situation immediately. Some kids
who have a worse condition will pass watery stool,
something similar to diarrhea, and mucus along with the
hard stool.
Constipation is becoming more and more widespread
because of the unhealthy diet pattern followed by most
of us today. With the trend of fast food, other fatty,
starchy and sugary foods, children aren’t getting the
required amount of fiber, which in turn slows down the
bowels. It is the responsibility of the parents to make
their children eat fiber enriched foods such as
vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Along with eating
food rich with fiber, it is also a must to drink enough
fluids. Water is the best fluid for this condition.
Fluids help to soften the stool and allow smooth passage
within the intestine. Insufficient intake of fluids
makes the stool dry and hard. Children are becoming more
stagnant because of video games, internet and
television, which are leaving them with little or no
time for physical exercise. Exercise helps the food to
move through the digestive system. Lesser active play
time and physical activity is also a major cause of
constipation. Medicines should be avoided and should be
taken only when doctor recommends them.
Stress and anxiety can play havoc over the digestive
system. School going kids are usually stressed out
because of the homework, assignments, and exams. An
adult can talk the kid out of the stress. Children, who
have the irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, worsen their
condition because of stress. Spicy and fatty foods can
also act as triggers, along with the stress. Kids having
this syndrome might even experience gas and belly pain.
Sometimes children avoid going to the bathroom when they
feel the need for. Usually unclean restrooms keep
children away. But when the nature’s call is neglected,
it becomes harder to go at a later time. In very rare
cases, medical conditions such as lupus, diabetes and
thyroid gland malfunctioning can also lead to
constipation.
