Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Habitual pediatric constipation, defecation disorderDuration and current status of the condition: Long-term,
Current general condition: 4-5 days per bowel movement, difficulty defecating, but the stool is normal
Medical history: Since childhood,
Previous diagnoses and treatment history and outcomes: Admitted to Shanghai Children's Hospital for examination,
Other: Could it be intestinal accumulation?
Supportive tests: Taken Baoruntong and Heshengyuan
Doctor's answer:
Hello: There are many reasons that can cause 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, making the abdominal and intestinal muscles weak, with insufficient tension and weak peristalsis, resulting in stubborn constipation.
??② Unsuitable food components: Constipation is closely related to the composition of food. If the diet is high in protein and low in carbohydrates, it reduces the relative number of intestinal fermentation bacteria, affecting fermentation and making the stool alkaline, dry, and causing constipation. If the food contains a large amount of casein, the feces contain a large amount of insoluble calcium soaps, leading to increased fecal volume and easy constipation. Additionally, refined rice flour and refined wheat flour contain less residue than whole grains, making them more prone to constipation.
??③ Intestinal dysfunction: Due to irregular living and defecation habits, the defecation reflex may weaken or fail to form, leading to intestinal muscle relaxation and constipation. Certain drugs or diseases that weaken the intestinal wall muscle and disrupt its function, as well as abnormal sympathetic nerve function, can all cause constipation.
??④ Genetic and physiological defects: Some children may suffer from constipation from birth, possibly related to genetics. Certain physiological defect diseases, such as anal fissure, anal stenosis, congenital megacolon, etc., can also cause constipation.
⑤ Psychological factors: Sudden psychological stress or changes in living environment can lead to temporary constipation.
??Prevention and treatment measures for children's constipation are as follows:
??① Change dietary content: Breastfeeding infants should primarily be fed with human milk, and breastfeeding should be encouraged as much as possible. Breastfed infants with constipation