Is Constipation Dangerous for Children?
The condition of constipation in children cannot be underestimated; this can disrupt the child's digestive health, which can affect their growth and health. However, friends of Hermina don't need to panic if your child has constipation. Constipation experienced by children can be overcome by administering drugs to them according to their doctor's recommendations.
Constipation is a digestive disorder that most commonly affects children. It is defined as the inability to completely evacuate feces, as evidenced by a lower frequency of defecation than usual; the child is seen straining or trying hard to pass stools that appear harder or drier and are large.
The age where constipation complaints occur most often is in children aged 2-3 years, when the child is practicing urinating and defecating in the toilet (toilet training). Constipation in children is characterized by complaints such as stools that become hard and shaped like goat stools so that they can cause pain after defecating.
Causes of Constipation in Children
The causes of constipation experienced by various children can be caused by various things, including:
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Lack of fiber intake or drinking too much milk
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Lack of drinking water
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Lack of exercise or rarely moving
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Side effects of certain drugs and stress
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No unhygienic food.
Prevention of Constipation in Children
Preventive steps that can be taken before giving constipation medicine can be carried out independently at home, namely:
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Provide foods that contain fiber.
Foods that contain fiber, such as nuts, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, can treat constipation in children. This is because consuming enough fiber will make stools softer and easier for children to pass.
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Meet the needs of body fluids
Lack of drinking water also causes the texture of the stool to become hard, making it difficult to pass during bowel movements. Meet the daily fluid needs of children by giving them enough water to make the texture of their stools softer and make it easier to defecate.
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Invite children to keep doing activities.
in maintaining bowel movements and digestive processes. Hermina's friends also need to invite children to do activities by giving them time to play for at least 30 to 60 minutes every day.
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Familiarize children with the toilet.
Get used to the child going to the toilet (toilet training) after he eats or when the child wants to defecate (BAB). It's not uncommon for children to hold back from going to the toilet because they're afraid to go to the toilet themselves or are uncomfortable with the toilet conditions. So make sure Hermina's friends don't hold back their bowel movements so that the stool doesn't harden and become difficult to pass.
Safe Use of Drugs
If home remedies fail to relieve constipation, Friends of Hermina should consult a doctor right away to obtain constipation medication that is safe and appropriate for children.
Drugs in the form of laxatives are not always recommended for children. This type of drug is only given under certain conditions based on medical considerations by a doctor, so caution must be exercised in administering laxatives to children.
Based on how they work, constipation drugs have two types, namely:
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Stool softeners
This constipation remedy contains lactulose, mineral oil, glycerol, and docusate, which can soften stools.
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Stool stimulants
Stimulants work by stimulating bowel movements to expel feces. Constipation medication in the form of a laxative is not recommended to be given other than as directed by a doctor.
In some cases, constipation can be a sign of a more serious illness. Therefore, constipation should not be underestimated because it can cause hemorrhoids in children.
Therefore, constipation in children should not be taken lightly, dear friends of Hermina, if a child has had it for more than 2 weeks and has stomach pain, bloody bowel movements, or constipation that doesn't improve even after medication has been given. Immediately report the child's complaints to the doctor.