Causes of constipation in children

Although constipation in children is very common, parents must pay attention to it and the food they give their children should be easy to digest. But what is the cause of constipation in children? There are many reasons for childhood constipation, such as the child eating too little, causing the stool to stay in the intestines for too long; eating too greasy food and being unable to digest it, etc. Regardless of the reason, children's diet should be improved to ensure comprehensive nutrition.

1. Dietary problems cause constipation in children. If a baby eats too little, there will be less residue after digestion and naturally less stool. Insufficient sugar in milk can cause dry stools. If the diet is insufficient for a long time, malnutrition will occur, the abdominal and intestinal muscles will lack strength, and the stool will not be able to be discharged, which may cause stubborn constipation. The nature of stool is related to food composition. If the food contains a lot of protein but lacks carbohydrates (sugar and starch), the stool will be dry and the frequency of bowel movements will be small; if the food contains more carbohydrates, the frequency of bowel movements will increase and the stool will be loose and soft; if the food is high in fat and carbohydrates, the stool will be lubricated. Some refined foods lack residue and can easily cause constipation after eating.

2. Problems with bowel movement and diet can lead to constipation in children. Some children have an irregular lifestyle and do not have the habit of defecating on time, which makes it difficult for them to develop a conditioned reflex of defecation, leading to relaxation and weakness of the intestinal muscles and causing constipation. In addition, certain diseases such as malnutrition and rickets can cause intestinal dysfunction, weak or paralyzed abdominal muscles, and constipation symptoms.

3. Intestinal dysfunction. Some children have difficulty in defecation due to malnutrition, rickets, hypothyroidism, etc., which causes relaxation of the intestinal and abdominal wall muscles. Some children suffer from frequent constipation due to congenital defects such as Hirschsprung's disease.

Editor's reminder: Children usually have 1-2 bowel movements a day, and their stools are relatively soft. If they do not have a bowel movement for two to three days but are in other good conditions, it may be common constipation. However, if you experience abdominal distension, abdominal pain, vomiting, etc., it cannot be considered as general constipation and you should go to the hospital in time.