Constipation in children is a day-to-day issue in many families and kids are brought into OP clinics complaining of chronic or acute constipation. It is understood as hard stools or a condition of reduced or absent bowel movements. As in adults, there may be several reasons and possibilities that can cause constipation in children. The most important ones are defective toilet training or a sudden change in food. Luckily, in most cases, mild & acute constipation in children can be reversed easily. But the management of children medically is a different situation. Children may behave as both angels and devils at the same time. They bring utmost joy and pleasure to parents’ lives but only with extreme levels of worry and anxiety. People enjoy the playfulness and innocence in children and watch them grow with glee. But any kind of health issue is of great concern to the parents. Management of children’s health issues is tough compared to adults. Proper and accurate diagnosis is a crisis when they are not able to communicate what they are feeling in the right words. Treatment is a Herculean task as they are not cooperative in any part of the treatment mostly, from taking medicines to following proper instructions including diet restrictions. In either way, complete care from parents and the physician can help a child relieve from constipation.
As we all see, digestion is the prime vital process in our body. Babies start proper and complete digestion once they start eating solid foods and start walking erect. Children are not fully developed but their digestive system functions almost similar to an adult after two years. Passing stools is needed for the proper and timely removal of solid waste formed in the intestines after the process of digestion. Children are considered constipated when not passing bowels for three or more days continuously. In some cases, pain while defaecation or abdominal pain will be there. Hard and dry stools will be difficult and painful to pass in some children and they tend to withhold the urge to defaecate which leads to constipation. In some acute cases of dehydration etc, drinking more water or liquids and taking food items rich in fiber can reduce the discomforts. A regular habit of a healthy diet and enough drinking water can help correct constipation. In severe conditions, laxatives may be needed with a prescription from a doctor.
Speaking of diet, many of the new generation and urban food items are known to cause constipation in children. There are a lot of food items that cause constipation but they are very different for each individual. Some constipation causing foods are the following:
- Junk foods like burgers, pizza, pasta, and other items are mainly made of low-quality flour devoid of fiber.
- Grains like wheat, barley, rye, triticale, etc can be a reason for constipation due to the protein called gluten in them.
- Processed or polished grains for making white bread or white pasta
- Undiluted and thick cow’s milk, cheese, and other dairy products daily
- Red meat
- Fried food items like French fries and chips
- Fast food items or snacks like chocolates, cookies, and sandwiches.
- Very dry and hard diet items
Personally, some children develop constipation while taking banana or cow’s milk while some others get relieved of it with taking the same. So, close and continuous monitoring is necessary to decide what is causing and relieving constipation in children. In all children, a diet rich in fiber and drinking enough water is essential in avoiding constipation. Some children may develop constipation due to other reasons. Traveling, introduction to a new solid food item, family history, stress, new school admission, etc can cause constipation in a child. Some children develop the condition while taking dairy products, especially in high quantities. Very simple factors like disturbed sleep to serious medical conditions may cause constipation. Some medications can also be the culprits in some cases. Acute constipation with identifiable reasons is mostly self-relieving, it rarely needs medical intervention. Most cases of constipation in children are easily manageable. Generally, a child is considered constipated when he or she is having bowel movements three or fewer times a week.
Mostly the cases show unsatisfactory bowel movements with hard, dry fecal matter, difficult to be removed from the rectum. It is confusing whether to get treatment for constipation or not, while you see no other discomfort in your child. Hard, dry, and painful defecation and associated signs and discomforts are given below, to help you decide whether your child needs treatment or medical aid. Constipation along with signs like fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, stains or mars of stools in the underwear, fever, headache, nausea & vomiting, etc needs extra care and medical help. Treatment for constipation includes very light measures from increasing water intake to difficult procedures like complex surgeries. Parents always want safe ways for children.
Herbal medicines and natural remedies are found beneficial in the treatment of constipation in children along with proper diet modifications. The age-old traditional medicinal system of India named Ayurveda has many safe and effective ways of managing constipation in children. Ayurvedic medicines and formulations are mostly made from herbs and plants are used safely for generations. Treatment of constipation comes under the branch of Ayurveda called Kaumarabhrutya which means pediatrics. Ayurveda finds several reasons for constipation in children but all of them are somehow associated with Vaata dosha, one among the basic functioning units in Ayurvedic philosophy. Either by obstruction or by dryness & emaciation, Vaata can be aggravated, leading to constipation. Eating warm, liquid, and easily digested food items like soups can be helpful. Also, ensure enough physical activity and daily oil massage for healthy children. Fruits of herbs like draksha and dhatri can be given to the child as a diet or medicine. Ayurvedic medicines and formulations like Ashtachoornam, Rajanyadi choornam, Abhayarishtam, etc can be used with expert advice as part of Ayurvedic treatment of constipation in children.
