Introduction and overview to constipation in children
Bowel problems are common in childhood. Constipation can start at any age and is common at potty training. Understanding the issues will help you to support your child or young person.
Constipation can cause lots of different problems, these includes delay in toilet training, reluctance to use the toilet, withholding poos, lots of loose poos, infrequent hard poos, accidental soiling, pain when having a poo.
All children and young people with bowel problems (including those who have additional needs) should be offered an assessment and treatment. If a child or young person has additional needs or disability this should not be assumed to be the cause of difficulties with their bowels.
Two charities can support giving lots of additional resources and offer helplines in regards to bowel issues:
Childhood Constipation is managed in Gateshead in the community, supported by your family GP following the Constipation Pathway for Primary Care.
If there are no improvements in the child constipation symptoms after two weeks of macrogol disimpaction regime, bowel stimulant medication are prescribed.
Daily maintenance laxatives, which may include a combination of Macrogols and simulant laxatives continue to be used until regular bowel habit, toilet training is well established and child is symptom free.
Bowel medication is gradually reduced which may take weeks or months for chronic constipation. If the child or young person has no improvement of their symptoms after 3 months using prescribed bowel medication, the family GP will refer the child or young person to the Community Children’s Bladder and Bowel Service for continued care.