Patient's question:
My child hasn't had a bowel movement for over a month. I've been giving him a laxative every few days, but he also talks nonsense and eats well. What's going on?Previous Treatment and Effects:
Treated with Siqu Tang.
How it helped: The goal is to have a bowel movement.
Doctor's answer:
Constipation. Mainly manifested as: In infants and young children, constipation is primarily determined by the quality and quantity of stool, as well as whether it has any adverse effects on the baby, rather than by the frequency of bowel movements. Each baby has different bowel movement patterns, which are also related to the type and amount of milk they consume. Generally, breastfed infants have more frequent bowel movements than formula-fed infants, and the stool of formula-fed infants tends to be harder than that of breastfed infants. If a baby goes 2–3 days without a bowel movement and then easily passes a normal-hardness stool with a normal amount, without any other discomfort, it cannot be considered constipation, and parents need not worry. However, if the stool is dry, small in amount, and difficult to pass, or if the baby becomes fussy or cries during defecation, or even develops a fear of bowel movements in severe cases, this indicates a pathological condition. Common causes of constipation include intestinal obstruction, Hirschsprung's disease, improper diet, overheating, and hypothyroidism. Short-term consumption of Siqu Mao Tang (Four-Grain Decoction) may help.