Constipation in a four-year-old child and a five-year-old child is of an organic and functional nature. Organic causes are associated with the presence of congenital pathologies of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract and acquired diseases.

Congenital anomalies:

• Hirschsprung's disease;
• dolichosigma;
• narrowing of various parts of the intestine;
• atresia.

Acquired pathological processes include tumors, polyps, and scars.

Constipation in a child - functional reasons:

• non-compliance with diet;
• fiber deficiency and vitamin deficiency;
• insufficient water intake;
• gastrointestinal pathologies;
• dysbacteriosis;
• the presence of worms in the body;
• sensitization to food allergens;
• conditions that reduce intestinal motility - anemia, hypovitaminosis;
• CNS diseases;
• taking medications.

Constipation in a 4-year-old child also appears due to frequent use of laxatives and the use of cleansing enemas. External stimulation leads to the fact that the intestines cannot independently digest food and remove waste from the body.

Constipation in children aged 4 and 5.5 years appears due to psychological factors. Little patients feel embarrassed and uncomfortable when going to the toilet in unfamiliar places, in kindergarten.

Many babies wait until they go home, during which time the stool accumulates and becomes hard and dense. Difficulty defecation develops as a result of any stress in young children.

Symptoms and consequences

Constipation in children 4 years of age is manifested by the absence of stool. For this age, the frequency of defecation is typical from 1 time within two days, a maximum of 3, and up to 2 times a day.

If stool does not appear within three days, this indicates the occurrence of difficult bowel movements.

Additional signs of constipation in a child aged 4 and 5 years:

• behavior - if constipation causes severe discomfort in the child, pain in the abdomen, in the anus during defecation, the child is capricious, complains of pain, is nervous;
• blood impurities in the stool - hard feces damage the anus, resulting in cracks and blood in the stool;
• lack of appetite.

If constipation treatment is not started in time, constipation can be dangerous to the patient’s health.

Consequences of long-term constipation:

• intoxication of the body with waste products;
• deficiency of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients;
• distended intestines, which causes disturbances in blood flow in the walls of the organ;
• increased dyspeptic symptoms as a result of disturbances in the composition of the intestinal microflora;
• cracks and bleeding during bowel movements;
• neurological disorders resulting from severe pain.

Treatment

If a 5-year-old child has constipation, what to do is the answer to the question that worries many parents. In order to know how to treat constipation, you need to consult a pediatrician and gastroenterologist. When examining a small patient, the doctor will find out the cause of constipation and prescribe adequate treatment.

If your baby experiences constipation for 1-2 days, use home methods to treat it. First of all, the child’s diet is corrected - the menu includes fresh vegetables and fruits, bran, grains and foods high in fiber.

Prunes, dried apricots, nuts, bananas are given as laxative products, and sea buckthorn oil is used.

The drinking regime is of particular importance; ordinary water dilutes stool and activates the work of all organs, including the intestines. It is necessary to ensure that the little patient has constant access to clean water.

You should not let your baby drink coffee, carbonated drinks, jelly and whole milk.

Treatment for constipation in a four-year-old child includes exercise. Exercising in the morning and any physical activity improves blood circulation, as a result of which metabolism accelerates.

For psychological reasons, treatment for constipation in a 5-year-old child includes consultation with a psychologist. You cannot scold your child for not being able to go to the toilet.

For severe and prolonged constipation, you can give your child a laxative. Young patients are prescribed medications containing lactulose; the most popular drug from this group is Duphalac. To treat constipation, medications with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli are used - Linex and Hilak Forte. To eliminate constipation, glycerin rectal suppositories or suppositories with sea buckthorn oil are used.

Note! Before using medications, consult a doctor. The doctor will select the appropriate medication and the correct dosage.

To eliminate constipation in the patient, parents do abdominal massage and cleansing enemas. Constipation is treated with infusion of senna leaves, plum decoction, and freshly squeezed beet and carrot juices.

13.04.2017

Constipation in a 4-year-old child is a common occurrence, since at this age a full balance of microflora finally begins to form, which in the child will be almost static throughout his life. At the same moment, the digestive tract somewhat changes its principle of functioning. Enzymes are produced in significantly higher concentrations, gastric juice acquires a normal level of acidity, and the liver synthesizes the optimal amount of bile. However, the “transition” period itself is a kind of stress for the gastrointestinal tract. And it is precisely for this reason that constipation most often occurs in a 4-year-old child. How can you help your child cope with his problem? Is it possible to somehow prevent intestinal obstruction or is it even theoretically impossible?

Provoking factors

The triggering factors for intestinal obstruction that can actually be prevented are:

• the predominance of excessively fatty and protein foods in the diet;
• acute dysbacteriosis (due to the end of the formation of microflora balance);
• the presence of polyps in the intestines;
• taking certain medications or vaccinations;
• recent infectious disease.

Doctors also point out a common mistake among young parents using pharmacology to stimulate the child’s digestive process. Some people give synthetic enzymes for this, others abuse cleansing enemas or taking laxatives. This is partly beneficial for the child’s body, but at the same time it complicates the formation of that very beneficial microflora that helps digest food normally.

It is also worth mentioning congenital pathologies, but they, as a rule, appear much earlier. In the 4th year, they can provoke constipation only with a sharp change in the digestive diet (for example, when it includes too many fatty, sweet, protein foods).

What to do in case of emergency

What can be done at home for constipation in a 4 year old child? Doctors recommend not trying to get rid of the problem with laxatives and immediately starting a cleansing enema (using a small bulb - its volume will be more than enough). And from pharmacological means, you can give your child any laxative with cellulose - it does not promote diarrhea, but the removal of dense feces, and at the same time it absorbs toxins.

If for some reason parents do not want to do an enema (or are simply afraid to do it themselves), then you can use special suppositories to facilitate bowel movements (glycerin). Pharmacies currently also sell special “children’s” candles, which have a slightly different shape and smaller size. As a rule, one of these will be enough for the child to calmly and independently go to the toilet.

And under no circumstances should the problem be ignored. That is, hope that the constipation will go away on its own and the child will be able to go to the toilet on his own pretty soon. Already 48 hours after a failed bowel movement, the child will experience severe intoxication and dehydration due to this disorder. And all this is due to constipation.

Diet adjustments

You can prevent intestinal obstruction in a 4-year-old child by adjusting his diet. Moreover, there is no need to make any drastic changes. It is enough just to give him at least 50 grams of prunes every day.

An important role is played by how much liquid the child drinks daily. And, of course, you should not take into account all kinds of juices and carbonated drinks. It is best to give him weak green tea, compote, and still mineral water. You can make an infusion from prunes - it tastes very similar to compote. This dried fruit is the best “folk” laxative with a gentle effect.

You should also include fruits and vegetables in your diet, as they contain fiber, which promotes normal intestinal motility. Doctors say children 4 years of age and older should consume at least 15 grams of fiber daily. A few oranges or apples will be enough to provide this amount.

But sweets and protein foods (peanuts, crackers, waffles, cakes) should be excluded from the diet. Moreover, it is not necessary to strictly prohibit all of this. The main thing is to minimize their presence in the diet.

You should also include fermented milk products in your diet. It is precisely thanks to them that the balance of microflora is formed. But it is better to give low-fat kefir or fermented baked milk. But you should prepare yoghurts at home yourself. It’s better not to give “store-bought” ones - they contain a large amount of preservatives.

In summary, constipation in a child most often occurs due to the formation of intestinal microflora. How to prevent this? Stimulating the motility of the digestive tract. And to do this, you should eat fermented milk products, fiber, and reduce the amount of sweets and protein foods you consume. How can I help with bowel movements? Many parents give some kind of laxatives for this, but doctors recommend limiting yourself to a cleansing enema or glycerin suppositories - they do not affect the functioning of the digestive tract, but help soften the stool.

Video: Doctor Komarovsky about childhood constipation

What should parents do when their child cannot go to the toilet normally? If a 3-year-old child has constipation, it is necessary to find ways to eliminate this unpleasant condition so that the stool returns to normal and there are no more problems with bowel movements. To what extent constipation can threaten the baby’s general health, and what kind of help will be effective, you need to find out from your pediatrician, who should initially find out the cause of constipation.

If constipation occurs in a small child aged 2, 3, 4 or 5 years, it is much more difficult to treat than in an adult. Why is this happening? The thing is that with constipation, it is very difficult for a child to explain exactly what symptoms he feels, where exactly his stomach hurts, whether it hurts the child to poop. Treatment of constipation in a child aged 2 to 4 years should be prescribed depending on what exactly causes constipation and the reasons for its occurrence. Even in young children, the reasons for stagnation of feces in the intestines are numerous. In most cases, it is enough to use a special therapeutic diet to treat constipation in a child so that the baby’s stool returns to normal. If a child cannot go to the toilet for a long time, then it is often simply necessary to adjust the baby’s diet and exclude certain foods from food. But there are times when constipation in a child has to be treated with the use of calorie-thinning drugs, laxative tablets, suppositories or microenemas. The rest of the article details how to understand that a child is constipated and finds it difficult to poop, what can be done to treat constipation in a baby, and how to quickly help him empty his intestines when feces stagnate in him.

How can you tell if your child is constipated?

To effectively treat constipation in a child, you should know, you need to know what can be considered constipation in a child, how to understand that it is constipation. How many times a day should a small child go to the toilet, what is the normal frequency of bowel movements, how often does a child need to poop every day? The frequency of bowel movements for each person is an individual indicator, but still in adults, a deviation from the norm is considered to be a condition when bowel movements occur less frequently than once every two days with a normal diet. The child’s body has a number of characteristics, its physiology is somewhat different from that of an adult, so constipation in a child at 2, 3, 4, 5 years of age is determined based on many signs: a decrease in the number of bowel movements, changes in stool consistency, the presence of a feeling in the baby pain during bowel movements. On average, a baby should walk 1 or 2 times a day, but this does not mean that if the child has not pooped today, then these are already symptoms of constipation. If a child has not pooped for 2 days, 2 days, then this can already be considered constipation.

How to determine from the symptoms and signs that it is constipation in a small child? What are the main symptoms and first signs of constipation in a small child? The child has no desire to go to the toilet for more than 48 hours, 2 days, the child’s stool is very dense and rough, pain appears in the rectal area or during bowel movements, the child may begin to be afraid to go to the potty due to pain in the rectal area during defecation. If a child pushes, but he is unable to pass, if he has bloating or excessive tension in the intestinal area (lower abdomen in the center, left or right abdomen, symptoms of flatulence), all these are symptoms of constipation in a child. If there is mucus in the stool after a child has not been able to go to the toilet for a long time, if there is yellow, green, black or red mucus, or if there is blood in the stool after prolonged constipation, you should seek help from a doctor with these symptoms , because The reasons for bowel movements in a child of this nature can be not only physiological, but also pathological.

Types and types of constipation in a small child, how to understand why the child does not poop?

Episodic type of constipation in a small child - what kind of constipation is it, what are the symptoms and signs of the development of episodic constipation? This is a one-time constipation when a child cannot go to the potty very rarely or even for the first time. The most common cause of one-time constipation in a child aged 2, 3, 4, 5 years is due to the inclusion of astringent foods in the diet. In this case, the digestive system is simply not yet prepared for such a load. Constipation can be relieved with medications, some laxative tablets, suppositories or microenemas to remove feces from the intestines in case of severe and prolonged constipation. Such constipation can be relieved by changing the diet, but if the child has no desire to go to the potty for most of the 3rd day, the use of laxatives to treat constipation may be simply necessary.

Organic constipation in a small child - what is it, symptoms and signs of organic constipation. This type of constipation occurs due to congenital abnormalities of the intestines or insufficient development of the intestines. Such constipation can only be treated under the supervision of a specialist doctor.

Normal indicators, how often a child from 2 to 5 years old should go to the toilet in general

Children under the age of one year, as a rule, have bowel movements up to 3-4 times in one day, sometimes a little less often. When starting to potty train a child, parents should constantly monitor their child's individual frequency of bowel movements so that he gradually develops control over his bowel movements naturally. This is a long process, taking about a year. The experience of pediatricians shows that by the age of three, children should already have formed a set of stable conditioned reflexes regarding emptying the bladder and bowels.

Constipation in children at this age can cause psychological problems due to the fact that a child who is gradually accustomed to the potty will experience a feeling of fear when he is seated on the potty if he has a problem with natural and painless emptying.

Physiologically, at 3 years old, a child receiving normal 4 meals a day must empty his bowels about 2 times a day every day, sometimes one bowel movement can occur within 1.5-2 days, but not less often! Stool retention in a 3-year-old child is considered not only a decreased number of bowel movements per day compared to the usual regime, but also the condition of the baby, when a very small amount of feces is released during bowel movements. Normal stool of a child at the age of three should be well-structured, fecal matter should be of moderate softness, without the presence of solid fragments and other inclusions, such as mucus, and not emit a strong unpleasant odor.

Symptoms and signs of constipation in a child 2, 3, 4, 5 years old

If parents see that the potty is empty for 2 days, this is a cause for concern. It is important to note changes in your child's potty behavior. If he sits on it for a long time, tries to push hard, and the contents of the pot look like a compacted fecal mass with separated solid fragments (“sheep” feces), then the process of defecation cannot be considered normal.

With prolonged constipation in a 3-year-old child, you may notice a deterioration in his health. He is more capricious, less interested in games, and his appetite and sleep are worsening. This is explained by the processes of intoxication of the child’s body, when, due to untimely emptying, a set of harmful substances from the feces partially enters the bloodstream. Against this background, the baby develops a state of malaise and general weakness. Delayed defecation, accompanied by severe straining and pain when trying to go to the toilet “in a big way”, is regarded as a condition of constipation that requires treatment.

What can cause constipation in a small child, reasons

Why does a 3-year-old child experience constipation? There are many reasons for this. Constipation is caused by:

1 unbalanced diet;

2 lack of fluid entering the child’s body;

3 emotional stress.

In some cases, this stool retention is facilitated by the anatomical features of the structure of the digestive organs, in particular the intestines, congenital or acquired. Constipation often occurs due to functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Anatomical anomalies include:

1 narrowing of intestinal areas;

2 underdevelopment of the intestinal section, provoking its obstruction (obstruction) and observed as a result of the development of various diseases, adhesions, hernias;

3 incorrect location of intestinal loops, impeding the movement of intestinal contents;

4 hypertrophy of colon tissue, elongation of the intestinal lumen (with Hirschsprung's disease).

Most often, constipation with such anatomical features in a child appears very early, starting in infancy. Fecal masses have a ribbon-like shape or are released in the form of separate hard lumps, as in Hirschsprung's disease. Constipation, which occurs due to the irrational nature and diet of the child, is provoked by:

1 irregularity in eating;

2 a combination of long periods of time between feedings with a large volume of food that the child is forced to eat at one time;

3 unlimited presence of sweets and baked goods in the children's menu;

4 insufficient amount of fermented milk products, deficiency of plant fiber contained in vegetables and fruits;

5 limited water consumption;

6 the child’s lack of habit of thoroughly chewing food.

The list of emotional reasons includes:

1 long time of adaptation to new conditions in kindergarten;

2 insults and quarrels with peers;

3 lack of attention from parents;

4 the child is forced to be with strangers due to the parents’ employment.

Causes of constipation that interfere with the full functionality of the intestines and other gastrointestinal organs:

1 diseases associated with enzyme deficiency;

2 problems caused by intestinal dysbiosis;

4 stagnation of bile;

5 consequences of taking a course of antibiotics.

Constipation caused by the above set of reasons is accompanied by other manifestations.

What to do, how to properly treat constipation in a baby?

As the child ages, the causes of constipation caused by anatomical features may disappear. Here, the main role is played by correctly selected preventive measures, agreed upon with the pediatrician and specialized pediatric specialists. In some cases, such problems are solved surgically.

Regarding the treatment of constipation in a 3-year-old child, you must follow all doctor’s recommendations so as not to aggravate the problem. Only a doctor who has the full clinical picture can select a medication solution. Until then, it is better not to turn to medications, especially synthetic ones. This can provoke the appearance of other undesirable consequences, since many laxatives have side effects, which is especially important in the case of treating constipation in children.

The primary task of parents is to review the diet and composition of the child’s diet. One competent correction can normalize stool and make it easier for the child to have bowel movements. The menu needs to be varied:

1 daily intake of vegetables;

2 the presence of fermented milk products (live yoghurts, fresh kefir and curdled milk);

3 cereals in cereals and side dishes;

4 meat dishes from lean meats (poultry, rabbit);

6 vegetable soups;

7 rye bread or bran bread, limiting the baking;

8 fruits with a laxative effect (plums, peaches, apricots).

It is better not to cook fish and fatty meats for your child; when preparing dishes, preference should be given to stewing and baking instead of frying. Particular attention should be paid to the drinking regime. It is necessary to ensure that the baby drinks at least 1 liter of liquid daily (good quality water, vitamin compotes, juices).

As for the reasons of a psychological nature, their elimination will help eliminate constipation in a 3-year-old child if, during a delicate conversation, you clarify what causes him anxiety and excitement. Additionally, you need to talk with the staff at the kindergarten, and, if possible, eliminate all reasons for emotional disorders among your peers. In such matters, the main approach is caution and gentleness.

What anti-constipation pills can you give to a 2, 3, 4 year old child?

When can a child be given laxative tablets for constipation? It is allowed to use laxatives for occasional constipation in a small child, which are approved for pediatric patients. But they should be used only in consultation with the pediatrician. To eliminate one-time constipation in a child aged 3 years, you can use the following tablets and medications that can be used at home:

1 glycerin or sea buckthorn rectal suppositories, the substances of which help to envelop and soften fecal matter and accelerate their excretion;

2 microenemas Microlax, the active components of which have a local effect on the area of ​​the intestine in which compacted fecal matter has accumulated;

3 drugs based on lactulose - Duphalac, Normaze.

How else can you treat constipation in a small child?

Some techniques that alleviate the baby’s condition with constipation are used by parents if he has no pain in the peritoneal area and there are no signs of an “acute abdomen.” You can slightly stimulate intestinal peristalsis by gently and slowly massaging and stroking the child's stomach with a clockwise movement of your palms. Such a daily massage for 10 minutes is also useful for preventive purposes.

It is necessary to accustom the child to perform feasible gymnastic exercises. At the age of three, children in a playful way can already perform quite good turns of the torso and bends, and walk, raising their knees high. Such exercises help stimulate the abdominal muscles, which has a positive effect on the intestines. A warm compress on the abdominal area is one of the possible options for helping a child with constipation, but it must be used very carefully if there is confidence in the absence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute phase. An oil or herbal chamomile enema is used in cases where the use of laxatives is undesirable for a child, and the help of rectal suppositories has proven ineffective.

Traditional methods of treating constipation at home, what can be given for constipation?

Usually, for constipation in children, changes in the diet or its correction are used; this is where traditional methods of treating constipation at home usually end, because the use of recipes from traditional medicine is simply not required. The introduction of products with laxative properties and an abundance of plant fibers into the children's diet helps improve peristalsis and facilitate the process of bowel movement. They help a lot:

1 prune, dried apricots;

2 boiled beets;

3 cabbage, cucumbers;

4 stone fruits: apricots, plums, peaches;

5 bran bread;

A mild laxative can be prepared from a mixture of chopped prunes, dried apricots, figs and honey. Giving 1 tsp. Giving your child this treat a day before breakfast can solve the problem of constipation. When brewing tea, you can add a pinch of Alexandria leaf or buckthorn bark. But this must be done carefully so that the child does not develop diarrhea. If it is not possible to cope with constipation using simple methods and even with the help of medications recommended by the pediatrician, and stool retention becomes systematic, the child should be examined to identify functional abnormalities in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and undergo the necessary course of treatment.

Not every parent knows that constipation in a 4-year-old child can be organic and functional. Each type of constipation has its own characteristics and difficulties that must be taken into account during treatment. The article below will tell you how constipation is treated in a 4-year-old child.

What explains the occurrence of constipation in a 4 year old child?

First of all, you need to remember that constipation in a child can be congenital or acquired. Speaking about the first type, doctors mention the influence of dolichosigma, atresia, Hirschsprung's disease and narrowing of the intestine. The connection between constipation and the listed pathologies is rare, since their presence is detected in the first months of a child’s life. Acquired processes are neoplasms, scars and polyps.

Constipation in a child can be congenital or acquired.

The impact of functional causes on a child’s body at four years of age is common. This is about:

• Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract leading to a lack of enzymes;
• Dysbacteriosis, characterized by disruption of the digestive system;
• Dehydration and lack of clean water. Abuse of soda, artificial juices, and coffee drinks can lead to constipation;
• Deficiency of vitamins and fiber;
• The influence of intestinal infections, worms, helminthiases;
• A disrupted diet, when the diet is filled only with fatty and protein foods, and the baby eats dry food. These include a shortage of fermented milk products;
• Food allergies and poisoning;
• Hypovitaminosis, anemia and diseases of the central nervous system;
• Negative effects of medications: probiotics, enzymes, sorbents;
• Psychological fear of going to the toilet in an unknown or new place;
• Restraining the urge to defecate.

A separate group includes the occurrence of constipation due to regular enemas and taking laxatives. Due to external stimulation, the child’s body is not able to independently digest food and defecate.

It is important to remember that the use of enemas and laxatives provokes addiction in the body.

What are the signs of constipation in a baby?

A child aged four years will generally have bowel movements 1-2 times every few days. If the act of defecation does not occur on the 3-4th day, then it makes sense to think about constipation. Depending on the cause of the problem, additional symptoms of the problem may vary. Thus, constipation in children is indicated by a change in the baby’s behavior - he begins to be capricious, often complain of painful sensations, and become nervous due to discomfort in the stomach. Constipation is indicated by the presence of blood in the feces. This occurs due to damage to the anus by hard feces and further development of cracks.

If a child’s constipation develops into a chronic form or is not treated at all by parents, then unpleasant consequences and complications cannot be ruled out. The body may suffer from weakness, lethargy, vitamin deficiency, and decreased immunity. Sometimes the intestines become overly stretched, which disrupts blood circulation and causes all sorts of pain and spasms. Disturbed microflora provokes dyspeptic symptoms and lowers immunity.

Methods for treating constipation in children

It is better to learn directly from your pediatrician about how to treat it, as well as what to give your child for constipation. With its help, you can find out the pathogenesis of the problem and begin quality treatment. However, in addition to prescribing medications, the baby’s parents are given a list of recommendations that must be followed.

1. It is important to adjust the child’s diet and provide him with plenty of clean, still water or fresh vegetable and fruit juices. The baby needs to be given more fermented milk products. The consumption of fatty soups, baked goods, pasta, rice, and whole milk is completely prohibited;
2. Children suffering from constipation should maintain a daily routine, visiting the toilet at the same time every day;
3. Gymnastics and physical exercise are required to improve intestinal motility;
4. In cases where constipation is psychological in nature, consultation with an appropriate specialist will be required. In turn, parents are obliged to create a comfortable environment for the child.

To treat the disease, you can resort to eating foods with a laxative effect: prunes, dried apricots, nuts, bananas.

What and how to help a four-year-old child

Drug treatment is appropriate only after the recommendation of a pediatrician. Independent selection of funds is prohibited. Often doctors prescribe Duphalac, Linex, Hilak Forte. The amount of the drug and its dosage are also determined exclusively by a specialist. It is appropriate to use glycerin suppositories, enemas, and consume freshly squeezed beet and carrot juices. Resorting to enemas and suppositories can be periodic - their regular use is prohibited due to the risk of worsening bowel function.

The use of laxatives should not exceed 3-4 days. Enema is performed exclusively in a hospital under the supervision of a specialist. Any wrong movement can quickly harm the intestinal mucosa and lead to bleeding - a particularly dangerous condition for a small child.

Is it appropriate to use traditional medicine if a child has constipation?

Traditional medicine, despite its natural origin and seemingly absolute harmlessness, should also be used with caution. The following recipes are especially effective:

• Plantain decoction. It is enough to pour 50 grams of the plant with 350 liquid and leave on fire for 15 minutes. After filtering, the drink can be drunk in the amount allowed by the doctor. The same can be done with a teaspoon of anise;
• Sorrel infusion. To prepare the drink, about half a liter of boiling water is mixed with 30 grams of sorrel. The infusion is given to the baby before going to bed. The dosage is determined by the pediatrician based on the child’s age.

The occurrence of complications or side effects should alarm parents: this may be a sign of an allergic reaction or individual intolerance.

Nutritional features of a 4-year-old child

So, when preparing dishes, you should focus on fruits, grains, foods, and fiber. Prunes, dried apricots, nuts, and sea buckthorn oil can help remove feces. The baby should drink plenty of clean water. The intake of spicy, fried, fatty foods, bananas and other foods with a binding property is completely excluded. Soda, jelly, and whole milk are also prohibited. A balanced diet should be supplemented with physical exercise: morning exercises and gymnastics.

As it turns out, constipation in a 4-year-old child can be dangerous and quite uncomfortable. The doctor will tell you what to do at home to eliminate it, because self-medication sometimes only brings additional complications. No matter how simple the solution to the problem may seem, it should not be ignored by parents.

Intestinal problems in young children and preschoolers are not uncommon. Even if a child is bothered by his stomach, he cannot always complain to his mother. It is important for parents to notice in time if the baby has not had a bowel movement for a long time or if going “big” causes him pain, and try to help him get rid of constipation.

Constipation is a consequence of slow transport of stool through the intestines. There are many causes for this condition, and it can occur at any age. In children, this is the most common disease of the digestive tract, although many parents do not attach much importance to this problem and do not consider it necessary to show the child to a doctor. Moreover, not all mothers know what frequency of trips to the potty is normal for a child of a given age, and do not particularly pay attention to the nature of the child’s stool.

From the age of one and a half years and older, the child poops 1-2 times a day, and his stool is no longer mushy, but formed. If you are prone to constipation, the intervals between bowel movements become longer, and the act of bowel movement itself can be difficult. Constipation is also considered to be bowel movement with normal frequency if it is accompanied by pain and hardened stool.

Parents should pay attention to the following “bells” signaling a violation of intestinal function in a child:

The systematic appearance of such symptoms should be a reason to contact a pediatrician. The duration of signs of constipation for more than 3 months already indicates a chronic course of the disease.

Why do children get constipated?

If the causes of bowel retention are not identified and eliminated, constipation can become chronic, and then it will not be easy to get rid of them. Many adults suffer from constipation for years, which begins in childhood. It is pointless to achieve regular bowel movements with the help of enemas and laxatives if you do not get rid of the factors that provoke the disease.

Organic constipation

Among the causes leading to constipation in children, organic ones are considered unlikely. In this case, defecation disorders - a consequence of intestinal abnormalities, congenital or acquired. Congenital pathologies, such as elongation of the sigmoid colon and lack of innervation of the large intestine, are usually detected and treated by the age of 2-3 years, since they manifest themselves acutely and almost from the first days of a child’s life.

Organic constipation in a preschooler should be ruled out if the lack of independent bowel movements occurs in the context of a normal diet and lifestyle and is accompanied by symptoms of indigestion. Bloating, gurgling, and abdominal pain can be caused by the accumulation of feces and gases in the intestines due to an obstruction formed in it. It can be tumors, polyps, adhesions leading to acute or chronic obstruction. Treatment in this situation is usually surgical.

In most cases, intestinal problems in children are functional and psychological nature.

Functional constipation

Functional constipation can be a consequence of:

• poor nutrition of a child for a long time, with a predominance of protein and fatty foods in his diet and a lack of plant fiber;
• chronic fluid deficiency in violation of the drinking regime, when the child drinks little or gets moisture exclusively from the “wrong” drinks (not water, but juices, tea, lemonades, etc.);
• imbalance of intestinal microflora, which develops against the background of antibacterial therapy and nutritional disorders and leads to putrefactive processes and weak peristalsis;
• food allergies, as a result of which the released histamines damage the intestinal walls;
• enzyme deficiency, when due to congenital pathologies and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, this or that food is poorly processed in the intestines;
• helminthiases, in which helminthic infestations disrupt intestinal function;
• rickets, which is accompanied by decreased tone of muscle tissue, including those located in the intestinal walls;
• iron deficiency in the body, due to which oxygen starvation of the intestinal muscles develops;
• hypofunction of the thyroid gland, the clinical manifestation of which is constipation;
• violations of the emptying reflex due to damage to the nervous system;
• abuse of drugs that affect the digestive tract (enzymes, probiotics, fixatives, antacids);
• frequent use of laxatives and enemas, which leads to the disappearance of the urge and the intestines getting used to external stimulation, losing their ability to independently get rid of feces.

These factors lead to disruption of intestinal motor function: they reduce peristalsis, wall tone, and damage the mucous membrane. As a result, the movement of digestive waste slows down and a “congestion” forms.

Psychological constipation in children

Constipation due to psychological reasons is also functional in nature, but is classified as a separate group due to the difference in approaches to treatment.

The urge to “big” occurs after feces, thanks to intestinal motility, reach its lower sections and irritate the nerve receptors located there. Unlike babies under one year old, in older children the process of defecation occurs consciously and is under the control of the central nervous system. But if a child is in uncomfortable conditions, he can hold back the urge for a long time, preferring to be patient than to go to the toilet in an unusual place. Suppression of the reflex to defecate leads to the accumulation of feces, its compaction, which at the time of defecation results in pain and injury to the anus.

Such problems often arise in children during the period of getting used to kindergarten, when they find themselves in an unfamiliar place (in a hospital, at a party) and in other situations. Constipation may accompany potty training in 2-3 year olds. Conscious restraint of defecation and prolonged ignoring of the urge sooner or later leads to the “losing” of the bowel movement mechanism itself, and constipation becomes chronic. A child may be afraid to poop even under normal conditions, since he reflexively expects pain.

Transient constipation

Each child can experience a “one-time” constipation when he ate something constipating, fell ill with a fever and signs of dehydration, or overheated outside in the heat. In this case, stool compaction is associated with errors in nutrition and temporary fluid deficiency in the body, the correction of which in itself leads to the restoration of normal consistency and frequency of stool. In such a situation, there is no need to take radical measures to eliminate constipation; it is enough to establish the “correct” diet and drinking regime.

Why is it necessary to treat constipation in a child?

Constipation in a child means more than just difficulty going to the toilet. Systematic untimely bowel movements can have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract and the entire body as a whole. Chronic constipation to varying degrees can cause the following consequences:

1. Impaired digestion of food due to constipation leads to poor absorption of nutrients, vitamins, microelements, which threatens the development of anemia, weakness, and decreased immunity.
2. At the same time, decay products from accumulated feces are absorbed into the blood through the intestinal walls and poison the body. Signs of intoxication can manifest themselves in lethargy, drowsiness, decreased activity, loss of appetite, etc.
3. Stagnation in the intestines introduces disharmony into the balance of beneficial and pathogenic microflora, which cannot but affect body's resistance to diseases and on the digestive process.
4. Feces stretch the intestinal walls, further aggravating constipation and causing inflammation of the mucous membrane, cramping pain, increased gas formation, impaired local circulation.
5. Persistent constipation leads to rectal cracks, bleeding from the anus, and pain. The child is afraid to go to the toilet, he has neurological problems develop.

How to help a child with constipation?

If all attempts to poop end in vain, the parents’ task is to alleviate the child’s condition and help him cope with constipation. Although many laxatives are allowed for preschoolers, parents need to make an effort do not resort to them without a doctor’s prescription.

As first aid for a child, glycerin suppositories and. Rectal suppositories with glycerin are given even to newborns; they are safe and effective.

If there are no candles, you can make an enema from a glass of boiled cool water. It is recommended to add 1-2 small spoons of glycerin to the enema water. Sometimes a saline enema is recommended, but it can cause burning and pain.

When administering an enema, safety precautions must be observed.

1. The pear must be disinfected and the tip lubricated with oil or baby cream.
2. Water can only be used cold, no warmer than room temperature, otherwise it will be absorbed into the intestines, carrying with it toxic products released by stagnant feces.
3. You should not pour a lot of liquid into the rectum, as it can be injured or stretched, causing pain and sharp spasms.

These measures should be enough to obtain a laxative effect at home, after which the child needs to call a doctor or take him to a pediatrician at the clinic. You should not often resort to such remedies, since this is not a treatment, but a temporary elimination of the symptoms of difficult bowel movements.

Urgently need to consult a doctor without attempting an enema if the child:

• severe abdominal pain, gurgling, symptoms of intoxication;
• blood from the anus;
• involuntary stool, when, against the background of persistent constipation, liquid stool leaks out.

Treatment of childhood constipation

If a child is bothered by constipation, parents should not ignore this fact and try to cope with the problem on their own. This issue should be addressed by a pediatrician who will prescribe tests (blood, urine, coprogram, feces for helminths) and refer the child to the necessary specialists: a surgeon, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, neurologist, etc.

A set of therapeutic measures should be aimed at achieving regular and natural cleansing of the child’s intestines (daily or at least every other day), preferably at the same time. The baby should defecate without straining, with stool of normal density and consistency.

Treatment of constipation in a child is an individual case, which takes into account all available factors: the severity of the disease, its causes, the presence of pain, the age and psychological characteristics of the baby, and concomitant diseases. Parents need to be prepared that the treatment will last more than one month. Complete restoration of intestinal functions and elimination of the child’s associated psychological problems can take up to 2 years.

As a rule, the first measure for constipation is a laxative diet. This is one of the most important links, without which the fight against constipation is impossible. However, organizing therapeutic nutrition for a child is not so simple. Most often, doctors ask parents to change the eating habits of the whole family - this will make it easier for the child to endure “deprivation” and adapt to the new diet.

1. Avoid foods that cause stool thickening. These are baked goods, rice porridge, pasta, whole milk, and fruits - bananas and unpeeled apples.
2. Exclude gas-forming foods: cabbage, legumes, mushrooms, tomatoes.
3. Avoid eating foods that reduce intestinal motility. These are tannin- and caffeine-containing products (tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, blueberries), enveloping soups and cereals, jelly.
4. For rapid transport of fecal matter through the intestines, they must be formed in sufficient quantities. To achieve this, the menu is based on dishes containing coarse fibers. These are vegetables, fruits, grains. It is useful to add bran to food and eat whole grain bread. The amount of fiber recommended for consumption by children over 2 years of age is calculated based on the child’s age: it is equal to the number of full years of the child plus 10 grams on top.
5. The rest of the diet is supplemented with “neutral” products: lean meat, chicken eggs, oils.
6. The child should drink a lot; the drinking regime is based on clean, unboiled water (filtered, bottled), without gases, without additives.
7. Be sure to include a sufficient amount of fermented milk products in your diet. These are yoghurts without additives, kefir, yogurt, bifido drinks.
8. If a child is diagnosed with inflammation in the intestines, he is transferred to strict adherence to the diet - table No. 3 or No. 4 for children.

Daily regime

Importance in the treatment of childhood constipation is given organizing a stable daily routine. It is necessary that meals, trips to the toilet, etc. always happened at a certain time. This way, the child will develop the habit of having a bowel movement every day at approximately the same time, preferably in the morning. At the same time, he will be ready for the act of defecation both psychologically and physiologically.

Parents should also instill in their child the habit of starting the morning with one glass of cool water and exercise. If, after drinking water, the urge to go to the toilet does not occur, the child needs to warm up, have breakfast and try to poop again.

Physical activity should also occur during the day. Gymnastics helps to activate intestinal motility and move leftover food through the digestive tract. The following exercises are especially useful:

• squats;
• bends;
• swings with straight and bent legs;
• bringing the knees to the stomach;
• abdominal exercises

Skating, cycling, running, outdoor games - any movement engages the anterior abdominal wall and forces the intestinal muscles to work. Young children can be invited to practice in a playful way: scatter beads on the floor and collect them, fully unbending, lifting each of them, etc.

Restoration of bowel movements

If you have problems with constipation, you need to teach your child, no matter how strange it may sound, to poop correctly.

1. You need to explain to the baby that the doctor will soon cure his butt, so going to the toilet will not hurt. Even if it’s unpleasant now, you should still try to poop at the same time.
2. The child needs to create comfortable conditions. If he goes to the potty, then buy a comfortable potty, make sure that it is not cold. Leaving a child alone in the toilet or morally supporting him - every parent knows better than his child. The main thing is not to scold him under any circumstances and to praise him when he succeeds.
3. The most effective posture for bowel movements is squatting, with your legs pressed to your stomach. If sitting, then place a stool under your feet. You can massage your stomach with your hands. The child can help the process of defecation if he quickly retracts and relaxes the anus or presses his finger on the point between the anus and the tailbone.

Pharmacological assistance: what to give a child for constipation?

If necessary, the doctor will prescribe treatment with laxatives. Since laxatives can be addictive, as well as side effects such as allergies, drug-induced diarrhea and other troubles, their therapy in children should not last more than 2 weeks.

For children based on lactulose, for example, Duphalac and its analogues. It is a safe drug prescribed even to pregnant women to increase the volume of feces and gently stimulate intestinal motility. The dosage of Duphalac is increased gradually, starting with 5 ml of syrup, and then gradually reduced.

Medicines of two groups are designed to eliminate sluggish bowel function and relieve spasms in it: prokinetics and antispasmodics. The former significantly activate the digestive tract, starting with the expulsion of food from the stomach and ending with toning the entire intestine. One of these drugs is Domperidone, which normalizes stool, relieves abdominal pain and eliminates gas. Children are prescribed 0.5 - 1 tablet before meals 3 times a day for a month. Children are given the medicine in liquid form.

In case of intestinal dysfunction, expressed in spasms (), children are prescribed antispasmodics - No-shpu, Papaverine, belladonna in suppositories for one to one and a half weeks.

Also, children with a tendency to constipation are shown herbal choleretic drugs, such as Chofitol. Their task is to replenish the deficiency of digestive juices, stimulating the production of bile and pancreatic secretions. This allows the child to better absorb food and quickly remove unprocessed remains from the body.

Preparations containing bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, are recommended for all children with constipation to treat dysbiosis and restore healthy intestinal flora. These include Linex, Bifidumbacterin, Hilak Forte and others.

Treatment of constipation in children with folk remedies

You can help your child’s body cope with constipation and establish normal bowel movements using traditional methods.

1. Natural laxatives are wheat bran and seaweed. They can be added to food or taken directly from a spoon with plenty of water. In the intestines, they swell with water, increase the volume of feces and dilute them, facilitating effective excretion. Dosage of bran – 15 – 50 g per day, kelp powder – 1-2 tsp.
2. An infusion of senna leaves (1 tablespoon per glass of water), brewed in the evening, strain in the morning, give the child 1 spoon up to 3 times a day. Has a laxative effect without causing abdominal cramps.
3. Grind rosehip leaves with sugar or squeeze juice from flowers into spring water, give to baby several times a day.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of folk recipes for laxatives. But do not forget that not all natural medicines are suitable for children. It is unlikely that a child will agree to drink a bitter, astringent, fresh onion or potato juice. He may refuse the infusion, which must be taken in glasses.

When choosing a prescription for a child, you need to look for one that is gentle, painless, and will not be unpleasant to take. Universal products that all children like are dried fruits(prunes, dried apricots) and decoctions from them (raisin water). Here are a few more recipes that normalize bowel movements, which are applicable in the situation of constipation in children:

• grind the peas into powder and give the child a teaspoon every day;
• take oatmeal jelly or a rich plum decoction 3-4 times a day;
• Children who love salty foods can be given cabbage brine;
• brew tea from dried cherries or apples;
• 3 times a day, eat a “dessert” made from a mixture of honey and aloe juice (infuse 100 g of both for at least 3 hours, take 1 spoon an hour before meals).

All these measures are what every parent can do. If a child has developed psychogenic constipation, which, despite symptomatic treatment, continues to plague the baby, one should not neglect the consultation of a psychologist. Perhaps a specialist will be able to identify the true causes of situational constipation and help with solving this problem.