Childhood constipation (less than 3 bowel movements per week) is a frequent digestive complaint we treat at Morkare Natural Clinic.
While there is a degree of variability in the frequency of stools in healthy children, most children pass stools every one to two days. Studies have shown the mean colonic transit time in pediatric patients without motility disorders is approximately 30 hours.
From a naturopathic perspective, a daily full evacuation is ideal to prevent the stool from becoming hard and difficult to pass and to ensure toxins are eliminated for overall well-being.
If your child is eating enough fiber, drinking enough water, and managing their stress levels but still having infrequent bowel movements, it could be a sign that there are other underlying root causes of their constipation that need to be dealt with.
We at Morkare Natural Clinic can help you with naturopathic, Homeopathic, and Nutrition treatments for Childhood constipation
Symptoms
Symptoms of constipation in children often include:
- Tummy pain
- Reduced appetite and/or fussy eating
- Bloated or distended stomach
- Irritable behaviour
- Anal fissures (small splits of the skin around the anus)
- Straining, pain, or bleeding when doing a poo
- Holding on behaviours such as crossing legs, squatting or refusing to sit on the toilet
- Larger stools which may block the toilet
Diagnosis
Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare professional may order X-ray imaging. An X-ray can show where stool is present in the colon and if the colon is blocked. Imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, may be needed to diagnose conditions that may be causing constipation.
Causes
Constipation is a common problem in children, particularly around the time of toilet training or starting solids. It can also become a problem after a child has had a painful or frightening bowel movement.
Some of the more common underlying drivers of constipation in children include:
- Low fibre diet – limited intake of foods high in soluble and insoluble fibre along with a diet high in processed foods and refined carbohydrates can cause sluggish digestion.
- Dehydration – not drinking enough water slows down bowel motility.
- Lack of physical activity – keeping the body moving with daily physical activity can help prevent and relieve constipation.
- Microbiome imbalance – low numbers of beneficial bacteria in the gut have been associated with reduced bowel motility and increased likelihood of constipation in children. Similarly, a disturbed gut environment due to parasitic infections, has been shown to slow bowel movements.
- Food allergy/intolerance – increased inflammation in the gut due to food allergies or intolerances can cause abnormal bowel movements. Overconsumption of cow’s milk has been linked with constipation in children.
- Anxiety/stress – alterations of the gut-brain axis due to stress or anxiety contribute to the development of constipation and withholding behaviours in children.
Medications – certain medications can cause or contribute to constipation such as the overuse of antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and stimulants.
How a Homeopath, Nutritionist, or Naturopath can help with constipation in children.
Our approach to treating constipation in children typically involves natural remedies and diet and lifestyle modifications to address the underlying causes and restore optimal digestion and bowel movements. In some cases, functional testing may also be recommended to help identify causes.
- Diet – a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and wholegrains may be recommended. In some cases, a Food Elimination Trial, where a particular food or foods are removed from the diet for 2-4 weeks can also be helpful in identifying problematic foods.
- Supplements – supplements like magnesium citrate, probiotics and prebiotics can help reduce the symptoms of constipation and support regular bowel movements.
- Healthy lifestyle habits – regular exercise, adequate sleep and proper hydration may also be advised.
- Stool testing – conducting a Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) test can sometimes be helpful in identifying parasitic infections and imbalances in gut bacteria.
- Food intolerance testing – our in-house Food Detective Test may be recommended if it is suspected that food intolerances are contributing to constipation.