9 Signs You Should Be Worried About Your Child's Constipation
Doc Smitty explains the warning signs that your child needs help
Constipation in children is common. It affects 30 percent of kids at some point in their life, is usually short lived and not severe. Most people call this functional constipation (despite how functional or dysfunctional you feel in the midst of it).
Following our posts on the safety of Miralax and answering some frequently asked questions about Miralax use for constipation, we heard one resounding question:
"When should I be worried and when should more workup be done?"
Benign (or not concerning) causes:
- Constipation starts with a dietary change or at the time of toilet training
- Children show a stool withholding behavior
- Things resolve easily with stool softeners
But what are the warning signs? When should you be worried? Here are nine symptoms or signs that more workup should be considered for your child’s constipation:
- Constipation has been present since birth or early infancy
- Any other symptoms with constipation-fever, vomiting or diarrhea
- Bleeding in the stool or from the rectum
- Swelling or distension of the belly
- Long, narrow stools (sometimes called “ribbon stools”)
- Urinary accidents or recurrent urinary tract infections
- Poor growth or weight loss
- Other, non-belly symptoms, especially neurologic symptoms like weakness or abnormal sensation in the legs
- Abnormal findings in the lower back (birthmarks or hair along the spine)
The workup for constipation can vary depending on the child’s symptoms and exam findings. Some things that might be considered:
Imaging -Most commonly the child will undergo a barium enema which is an X-ray that is enhanced by an enema that shows up on the X-ray. If there are concerns about the child’s neurologic symptoms, an MRI of the spine can be conducted to rule out something called a tethered cord.
Blood work - Depending on the child’s symptoms, blood testing for the following could be indicated: celiac or thyroid disease, calclium and blood lead levels.
In severe constipation or constipation that does not resolve, a referral to a gastrointestinal doctor can be helpful for further workup and treatment recommendations.
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