Saturday, April 19, 2008

Constipation in Children - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Constipation in Children - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Constipation in children is a growing world problem. In
fact, more children than adults are suffering from
constipation to some extent or the other. Nipping
constipation in the bud is very important, because as the
child grows, it might compound to several complicated
forms. This article is a collection of some relevant
information on constipation in children. Constipation in
Children - Causes

The following are some of the main causes why constipation
occurs in children:-

· The most prominent cause for constipation in
children is holding back bowel motions. They have to do
this often in their school hours.

· Changes of climate and diet, especially when
traveling or on a holiday can cause constipation.

· Children also eat a lot of wrong foods. Foods that
are too oily and spicy - typically those that are
classified as junk foods - can cause constipation in
children.

· Some infections in the alimentary tract can commonly
occur in children. This can cause constipation.

Constipation in Children - Symptoms

Children commonly show the following symptoms when they
suffer from constipation:-

· Difficulty in passing stools or infrequent bowel
motions

· Pain and discomfort when passing stools

· A heated sensation in the stomach, generally after
eating a meal

· An uncomfortable feeling of fullness in the stomach
after having meals

· Lethargy and wanting to lie down on the bed for a
long time, even after just having woken up for the morning

It is important that the parents read these signs and
symptoms in their children. Children themselves will not
know what is happening with them. Parents must keep track
of the bowel motions of their kids by inculcating a daily
habit. If there is anything amiss, a doctor must be
notified, who will then look for further treatment
requirements.

Constipation in Children - Treatment

There are many options for treatment of constipation in
children, but it is first important that the doctor must be
sure it is a case of constipation. Once that is done, the
doctor will try to clean the accumulated feces in the colon
through different methods. Principally, it involved
softening the hardened accumulated stools in the colon so
that they can pass out easily. A host of medicines can be
prescribed for this purpose. When the stools eventually
become soft, they will pass out with speed. That is why,
once the medication of the child is started for
constipation, the child must stay at home and must be made
to wear loose clothing that can be easily removed for
performing the bowel movement.

A good home remedy is to use the powder of triphala.
Children must be given a triphala mixture in water each
night before retiring for the night. The method is to take
one or two teaspoonfuls of triphala powder and put it in a
cup of slightly warm water. Have the child drink this
suspension hastily. If the constipation is mild, this
triphala suspension will soften the stools overnight and in
the morning, the child will have a normal bowel movement.


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Read about Triphala Colon Cleanser and Constipation in
Children at http://www.herbalcureindia.com

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