The general concept of whether a child is constipated is determined by the number of bowel movements, but in fact it should mainly depend on the quality and quantity of the stool and whether it has any adverse effects on health. The number of bowel movements per day varies greatly among normal children. The number of stools per day can be higher for infants who are exclusively breastfed; for those who use milk and other milk substitutes, the number of stools is less, once a day or once every 2-3 days. If the number of stools is small, but the nature and amount are normal, and the child does not have any other discomfort, it can not be considered pathological. If the stool is dry, the amount is small and difficult to dry out, although there can be 2-3 times a day, but the total amount is less than the usual amount of once, then it can be considered constipation. Especially if there is a simultaneous reduction in appetite, abdominal distension, and frequent bowel movements, it is a manifestation of constipation. If the child usually has regular bowel habits, but suddenly does not relieve stool for more than two days, especially with abdominal pain, abdominal distension or vomiting, then we should pay more attention to find the cause of constipation.
Children of different ages have different common causes of constipation. When children do not have enough food, constipation can also occur, if at the same time there is no weight gain, and often cries because of hunger, after replenishing food, then the stool can be normal. Children also drink too little water, especially in the summer, sweating, water is absorbed in the intestine, resulting in large dry stools can also have constipation. With the gradual increase in the age of children, if the usual defecation training and the formation of regular bowel habits, can also become an important factor in constipation. If the usual bowel habits are irregular, although there is a feeling of defecation, but because of too much play or because of other things, and consciously inhibit the stool, over time, can make the intestinal defecation reflex sensitivity is reduced, the stool piled up in the intestine, so that more water is absorbed, the stool becomes drier, more so that the stool is not easy to discharge. Children’s food is too fine, lack of fiber, not enough stimulation of the intestinal wall, can also form constipation.
In addition, intestinal stenosis, intestinal obstruction, rectal or anal stenosis, pyloric spasm, congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, congenital megacolon, and other intestinal diseases. Malnutrition; low exercise can make the abdominal muscles weak and reduce intestinal muscle tone, all of which can make a pediatric constipation. Brain and spinal cord lesions can also cause constipation in children. All of these conditions need to be treated for specific causes.
Constipation or dry stools in children can affect their health, or at least lead to anal fissures or hemorrhoids, and can also affect their digestive function, causing a loss of appetite. If this condition continues, it can gradually cause malnutrition in the child and affect normal growth and development.
Through a series of methods such as adjusting the diet, training, taking drugs and enemas to regulate intestinal function, reduce fecal retention in the intestine and establish a good bowel movement pattern, the purpose of treating constipation can be achieved.
I. Adjustment of diet Good dietary habits can prevent and treat many diseases, which is especially important for defecation disorders. Children with the disease cannot freely choose their diet as normal children do, and should be controlled according to their specific conditions, with some foods being increased and some foods being restricted, and should develop the habit of drinking more water.
Cereals (coarse grains): corn, sorghum rice and millet, etc.
Cereals:Grain bread, five-wheat bread, dark bread, raisin bread, high-fiber cookies, oatcakes, wafers, digestive cookies, wheat crisp cookies and cereals, etc..
Vegetables: leeks, garlic moss, soybeans, beans, white potatoes, cabbage, radishes, etc.
Fruits: bananas, pineapples, plums, apricots, plums, dates, etc.
Beverages: various juices, vegetable juices, etc.
Others: peanuts, pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, melon seeds, raisins, etc.
All the above-mentioned foods are rich in fiber and have the effect of slowing down diarrhea. We should make the corresponding recipes according to the situation and the children’s habits and preferences, and constantly update the variety of colors and production methods to prevent the children from getting bored and resisting to eat the same recipes for a long time.
Defecation habit training
Establishing good defecation habits can play a certain therapeutic role for various defecation disorders, especially for children with constipation and bloating. Do not hold back the intention to defecate, often ignore the intention to defecate will affect the normal defecation reflex.
Method: Go to the toilet immediately after three meals every day to train defecation, let the child sit on the potty, force defecation, at the same time you can add the desire to imagine feces moving in the intestinal canal until the discharge, each training 20 hours. At the beginning of the training, the child may not be able to defecate, but still training, the family should be confident, patient counseling to the child, each time after the successful defecation, the family should give encouragement or certain material rewards. Generally, after 2 to 3 weeks of training, they can succeed in maintaining three bowel movements per day, and the bowel movements are not very laborious.
For children with chronic constipation, three-stage defecation training is required
Goal: regular defecation, 5 minutes, one emptying
First stage: regular defecation (sitting on the potty)
Second stage: injecting corkage if the child does not pass for 5 minutes
Third stage: inject the cork after defecation
If the first stage has been defecated, the second stage will be exempted; after the third stage, only the cork mixture without stool will be defecated, and the third stage will be exempted for 3 consecutive days.
After that, supervise defecation every day, inject corked fluid after defecation once a week for random check, and insist on 1 year.
Third, develop good living habits
Appropriately participate in sports and maintain a good optimistic attitude to increase the muscle strength of the abdominal muscles, diaphragm and levator muscle. Regular life and living will also improve the function of the digestive tract.
Fourth, drug treatment
Volume laxatives and lubricating laxatives are the main treatments. (Medication according to the doctor’s prescription)
Enema Enema is the use of isotonic liquid to remove retained stool in the intestine, to clean the intestinal canal, promote intestinal peristalsis, and prevent the occurrence of stool retention and incontinence. The determination of intestinal cleanliness is based on whether or not fecal incontinence still occurs after an enema, and if so, the intestinal tract is still uncleaned.