Patient's question:
My child is now almost five years old. Since they were a month old, they had one bowel movement a day. When they were six months old, there was once a week when they only had one bowel movement. Now, they still have one bowel movement every two or three days. Is this normal? Do they need medication?Doctor's answer:
If a child has regular bowel habits and suddenly does not have a bowel movement for more than two days, especially accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, or vomiting, it is particularly important to investigate the cause of the constipation. Children of different ages have different common causes of constipation. The majority of infants should pass meconium within 24 to 36 hours after birth. If meconium is not passed, it is necessary to check for intestinal obstruction, including anal atresia and stenosis. However, even when meconium is present, intestinal obstruction cannot be completely ruled out, as a small amount of meconium may still be passed from the segment below the obstruction. Constipation can also occur when a child does not receive enough food. If weight gain is also poor and the child frequently cries due to hunger, the bowel movements can return to normal after food is supplemented.