Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: The reasons for this, dietary and medicinal treatments, and the consequences.Regarding the issue of my child's bowel movements, my daughter has been 135 days old, and it has been about 70 days since she started having difficulty defecating. Under the guidance of a local doctor, we applied a medication to her anus. Less than two minutes after applying it, she passed three to six farts, followed by a bowel movement. Each time, she would cry out in fear. Now, I am very concerned about the health problems this may be causing her. Can you help me discuss the reasons for this issue, dietary and medicinal treatments, and the consequences?
Duration of the current illness and persistence
Doctor's answer:
Hello: There are many reasons for constipation in children, mainly including the following points:??① Insufficient diet: When children eat too little, there is less residue in the intestines after digestion, leading to reduced bowel movements. Insufficient sugar in milk makes the stool dry. Prolonged dietary insufficiency can lead to malnutrition, causing weak abdominal and intestinal muscles, insufficient tension, and weak peristalsis, resulting in chronic constipation.
??② Unsuitable food components: Constipation is closely related to the composition of food. An excessive intake of protein with insufficient carbohydrates reduces the relative number of intestinal fermentation bacteria, affecting fermentation and making the stool alkaline, dry, and leading to constipation. If the diet contains a large amount of casein, the feces may contain excessive insoluble calcium soaps, increasing fecal volume and making constipation more likely. Additionally, refined rice flour and refined wheat flour contain fewer residues than whole grains, making them more prone to constipation.
??③ Abnormal intestinal function: Irregular living and defecation habits can weaken or fail to form the defecation reflex, leading to intestinal muscle relaxation and constipation. Certain medications or diseases that weaken intestinal wall muscle strength and function, as well as abnormal sympathetic nerve function, can also cause constipation.
??④ Genetic and physiological defects: Some children may suffer from constipation from birth, possibly related to genetics. Certain physiological defects, such as anal fissure, anal stenosis, and congenital megacolon, can also cause constipation.
??⑤ Psychological factors: Sudden psychological stress or changes in living environment can lead to temporary constipation.
??Preventive and treatment measures for children's constipation include the following:
??① Change dietary content: Breastfeeding infants should primarily consume breast milk, with exclusive breastfeeding being the best option. Breastfed infants may develop constipation