Patient's question:
My daughter is 20 days old. The first 20 days, her bowel movements were normal. Since the 29th, her bowel movements have become extremely dry, forming into small, solid pieces. She cries every time she has a bowel movement, and each time it's only about the size of a finger. What could be the reason? Is it serious? Please help me. Thank you!!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, causing weak abdominal and intestinal muscles, insufficient tension, and weak peristalsis, resulting in stubborn constipation.
??② Unsuitable food components: Constipation is closely related to the composition of food. An excessive intake of protein with insufficient carbohydrates in the diet 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 will contain a significant amount of insoluble calcium soaps, leading to increased fecal volume and easier constipation. Additionally, refined rice flour and refined wheat flour contain fewer residues than whole grains, making them more prone to constipation.
??③ Intestinal dysfunction: Irregular living and defecation habits can weaken or fail to form the defecation reflex, leading to intestinal muscle relaxation and constipation. Certain drugs or diseases that weaken intestinal wall muscle strength and function, as well as abnormal sympathetic nerve function, can all cause constipation.
??④ Genetic and physiological defects: Some children may experience constipation from birth, which may be related to genetics. Certain physiological defect diseases, 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.
Based on your description, the condition is not very severe. You can currently choose to use suppositories for retention enema to improve your child's symptoms.