In a simple language, constipation refers to painful, scarce defecation – same for adults and severe constipation in children. A keen parent will observe that the child’s stools are big, hard and are painfully passed out. Then, the frequency of passing out the stool is worrying. According to the North American Society of Gastroenterology, Herpetology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), severe constipation in children is experienced when a child experiences delayed and difficult defecation. This situation may prolong for more than two weeks.

Defining Severe Constipation in Children

Severe constipation in children may cause significant distress in young children. As a matter of fact, statistics show that the prevalence rate of severe constipation in children is about 30 percent. Experts will tell you that constipation in children may not necessarily be a symptom of an underlying serious medical condition. Here is a scenario of what could possibly cause constipation in children. Normally a child may experience some pain while passing out stool. To avoid such pain, a child may withhold the stool making it to pile up in the rectum. Constipation will then gradually develop. Severe constipation will then start when the piled up stool becomes harder and often too big resulting to pain when passing it out eventually. You can see that all the conditional definition of constipation is triggered intentionally or rather deliberately. Therefore, there is no cause of alarm if severe constipation occurs in children. The situation can be effectively addressed.

Why Severe Constipation in Children May Persist

Basically, severe constipation in children is very common across all the pediatric age groups- right from infants all the way to teenagers. Normally, childhood constipation occurs in three noticeable stages of childhood. In the first stage, constipation may occur to infants especially during the weaning stage. For toddlers, constipation may occur during the “toilet training” stage while it is common to school aged children.

Severe constipation in children may be, sometimes, inevitable among infants who are less than one year old. The situation may be relieved when the infants grow to become toddlers. However, these toddlers may continue to psychologically associate passing out of stool with pain, even when this is not the situation. This will make the toddlers to continue withholding their stool hence leading to constipation. For this reason, caregivers as well as parents are advised to continue administering laxatives while being cautious not to make the toddler depended on the same. Laxatives have been known to have an adverse side effect if their use is prolonged. Am sure no single parent would be interested in treating one problem on one end while creating a major one on the other end.

As a matter of fact, laxatives may cause colon laziness syndrome. Some physicians also have it that its prolonged usage may result in colon cancer. You are highly recommended to withdraw laxatives and/or any other form of over the counter medication. Severe constipation in children can be completely eliminated only if, as early as during the weaning process, high fiber rich foods are consistently introduced to the toddler. Give your toddler as much water with consultation of a pediatrician.

Home Treatment for Severe Constipation in Children

Home remedies should work to relieve severe constipation in children pretty soon. If you don’t see results basically in a day, you have all the reasons to be worried. Call your hospital for further advice.

For any infant who is basically four months or less, severe pain while defecating rectal bleeding are enough signs and symptoms to tell you that your toddler has severe constipation condition.

As a parent, dark corn syrup should always be available. To most of us, dark corn syrup was common during our childhood. For quite long, this syrup has been trusted as a major cure for severe constipation in children. Complex sugars in the dark corn syrup often helps to keep the stool of your toddler moist therefore making it a painless task to pass out bowels. Don’t you think that passing out stools in young children should be thing they should enjoy?

Try pure fruit juices in children. Giving up to eight ounces in a day to your toddler and young children can make a significant difference. Change your kid’s diet if you suspect what you are feeding him currently could have cause constipation problems. Severe constipation in children may be eased if you make it clear that toilet trainings are not meant to punish your kid.