Patient's question:
My little nephew has never shown these symptoms before, but recently he hasn't had a bowel movement for several days. The whole family is very worried. We've tried giving him bananas, but he doesn't eat much of what he usually eats, and he also doesn't drink much water. I'd like to know more specifically how to prevent and treat infant constipation?Doctor's answer:
Mostly caused by internal dryness and heat, accumulation of heat in the intestines and stomach, or damage to yin by heat diseases leading to intestinal dryness, stagnation of milk and food in the middle jiao, or insufficient qi and blood causing lack of moisture in the intestines. Treatment should focus on clearing the bowels and expelling heat, as well as moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movement. The best method for infant constipation is to regulate diet, primarily by increasing supplementary foods and consuming more vegetables. Additionally, a scientifically balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits is essential. The most effective treatment remains Chinese medicine's purgative therapy, which regulates gastrointestinal function and addresses the root cause.