Patient's question:
My son will be 3 months away from turning 3 weeks old, but he has been like this since he was very young. I thought it was just temporary constipation and didn't pay much attention. It's not always like this, though. Sometimes I want to take him to see a doctor, but he doesn't seem to be in any pain. I just want to ask if constipation in children is a serious concern and if there are any simple methods to address it.Doctor's answer:
Infant constipation refers to the condition where an infant's stool is abnormally dry and hard, leading to difficulty in defecation. During defecation, the child may cry and become restless due to anal pain. Children with prolonged constipation may also exhibit symptoms such as poor mental state, decreased appetite, and abdominal distension. Constipation not only causes suffering to the child but also has many causes. Generally speaking, constipation is primarily related to feeding methods, the quality and quantity of diet, defecation habits, gastrointestinal digestion and absorption capacity, abdominal muscle pressure, the development of intestinal smooth muscle, and propulsion force. Artificially fed infants are more prone to constipation compared to breastfed infants, as cow's milk contains more calcium and casein while having relatively lower levels of sugar and starch.