Is it okay to use enema for children?

Dry stools in babies are a common phenomenon in our lives. However, if they are not adjusted in time, it will have a great impact on the baby's health. Long-term constipation or dry stools can easily lead to the baby's inability to absorb food better and difficulty in defecation. Some parents will choose to use enema to help the baby defecate, but this will often make the baby form a certain dependence on enema. Let's find out whether it is good to use children's enema?

Is it okay to use enema for children?

The ingredients of enema are generally glycerin and sorbitol, supplemented with some other auxiliary materials. Its main principle is to use the hypertonic effect brought by glycerol or sorbitol to allow more water to penetrate into the intestinal cavity, soften the stool, stimulate the intestinal wall, and reflexively cause a defecation reaction.

At the same time, glycerin itself can also play a certain lubricating role. Therefore, enema is a stimulant laxative, which is very similar to the principle of rhubarb in traditional Chinese medicine.

Enemas have a direct effect, so they are often abused by patients with constipation. But in fact, the irritating effect of stimulant laxatives on the intestinal wall may very likely cause the patient to become dependent on it, forming a habit of refusing to defecate without strong stimulation. As the duration of use increases, the intestinal wall's sensitivity to stimulation will become weaker and weaker, making it difficult for the enema to work.

In clinical practice, enema is mainly used for people with impacted stool and those who need a quick bowel movement, such as bedridden patients and patients preparing for surgery. Pregnant women and children should not use enema.

Because enema may cause strong contraction of local tissues, resulting in transient ischemia in pregnant women and triggering chronic inflammation. As children's intestinal mucosa is very delicate, the stimulation of sorbitol will affect their gastrointestinal function.

When using a suppository, you should remove the top rubber plug, apply a little oil, slowly insert it into the anus, and then squeeze the medicine into the rectum. Adults should use one stick at a time, and children should use half a stick at a time. The opening of the infusion catheter should be smooth to avoid scratching the anus or rectum.

It is important to note that using enema to treat constipation can only treat the symptoms, so it can only be used as an "emergency measure" to temporarily relieve the pain of constipation. Frequent use will cause dependence.

To prevent constipation fundamentally, it is best to develop good eating and living habits. The constipation problem should be solved from the eating habits. For example, eating foods with high fiber content such as celery and whole grains will help food residues appear in the body and form feces; it is best to ensure bowel movements once every one or two days and develop regular bowel habits. Sometimes, taking some Chinese medicine as an auxiliary treatment, or massaging the abdomen with your hands during bowel movements will help relieve constipation. It is best to use enema and other medicines as auxiliary agents only to temporarily relieve pain, and not to use them frequently.

Although enema can help babies defecate more smoothly, do not use enema for a long time. This will easily make the baby dependent on it, and will cause symptoms such as not being able to exert force when defecating in the future. This is also very detrimental to the baby's health. Therefore, if the baby has dry stools, we must make thorough adjustments in time and do not simply rely on enema. In terms of diet, the baby should eat light food and drink more boiled water.