Constipation

Many children will experience constipation throughout their childhood. Constipation is the passing of hard stools or when your child doesn’t pass stools frequently.
You only need to be concerned if your child’s constipation persists or they are showing signs of withhold or are refusing to go to the toilet.


Signs and Symptoms of chronic constipation

• Less than 3 bowel motions per week
• More than 1 episode of faecal incontinence per week
• Large stools in the rectum
• Withholding behaviours
• Painful defecation

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Soiling

Soiling is where the bowels are emptied outside the toilet. A child may have loose stool in their undies or skid marks. This is common in children who have chronic constipation.
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As a result of chronic constipation the bowel becomes enlarged and stretched. The child becomes less sensitive to detecting stools in the bowel and as result they can have leakage of stools.

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