Constipation

Constipation is one of the common digestive disorders found in children/infants and is caused due to unusual bowel movements. It may refer to the infant passing dry and hard stool in small amounts or passing stool less frequently than his/her normal pattern of bowel movement. These conditions can be very painful for the infant but are usually temporary and can be treated easily. 

Constipation is caused due to over absorption of water by the colon (large intestine). Stool is formed by the colon as food passes through it; water gets absorbed by colon, solid stool is produced and pushed forward towards the rectum through muscle contractions. If muscle contractions in the colon become slow, stool movement through the colon slows down correspondingly and results in greater water absorption by the colon. Thus, the stool formed in such situations is very hard, dry and causes pain in movement. 

Some of the major conditions that lead to constipation include

• Shift of diet from soft/liquid foods to solid foods
  

• Shift from breast milk to formula milk
  

• Lack of water intake
  

• A bad diaper rash
  

• Hot weather
  

• Viral illness
  

• Infant subjected to early toilet training

In very rare cases, instead of these, any ailment might cause constipation which includes problems of the endocrine, nervous system, intestinal tract, rectum or anus.​

When to seek expert advice

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult a doctor at the Department of Paediatrics at The Aga Khan University Hospital. Our doctors can assess your child’s symptoms, explain the likely prognosis and recommend appropriate treatment.