Patient's question:
Little girl, 2 months old. After her full moon, she started having a bowel movement every 2 days, then every 3 days, then every 4 days. Today is the 5th day, and she hasn't had a bowel movement yet. I'm very worried about her. Could you please tell me which medicine is most effective for infant constipation—probiotics, Qixing tea, or any other medicine?Doctor's answer:
The causes of constipation in children are numerous, and the main ones are as follows: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 tone, 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 fermenting bacteria, affecting fermentation and making the stool alkaline, dry, and leading to constipation. For example, a diet high in casein increases the amount of insoluble calcium soaps in the feces, leading to increased stool volume and easier constipation. Additionally, refined rice flour and refined wheat flour contain less residue than whole grains, making them more prone to constipation.