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 am very worried about her. Please ask, what medicine is most effective for infant constipation—probiotics, Qixing tea, or any other medicine?Doctor's answer:
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 constipating. For example, if the food contains a large amount of casein, the feces will contain a high amount of insoluble calcium soaps, leading to increased fecal volume and easier constipation. Additionally, refined rice flour and refined wheat flour contain less residue than whole grains, making them more prone to constipation.