Children often have problems with stools due to impaired functionality of the gastrointestinal tract that has not yet fully formed. At six years old, the work of the abdominal organs has already been established. If constipation or diarrhea often occurs at this age, this is a signal about the possible presence of chronic diseases of some parts of the intestine. In this article, you will learn about the causes of constipation in children 6 years old, methods of drug therapy and alternative recipes for solving problems with stool.
Features of the intestinal structure in children 6 years old
It should be borne in mind that in a child aged 6 years, not all sections of the intestine have a physiologically correctly formed structure and length. Often this fact provokes constant constipation. With age, this goes away.
The gastrointestinal tract consists of the following departments:
- oral cavity;
- esophagus;
- stomach;
- intestines.
If at least one of these sections of the gastrointestinal tract is underdeveloped, has pathologies of an infectious or congenital nature, constipation in children of 6 years old can become chronic. With age, some pathologies go away by themselves, while others need drug therapy.
Delayed stool in children, provoked by the underdevelopment of certain sections of the intestine, in some cases requires surgical intervention. Therefore, with constant constipation of the child, it is necessary to show the gastroenterologist and carry out all the prescribed studies (ultrasound, radiography).
What is constipation? How not to confuse it with intestinal obstruction in a child
Parents should be very careful not to confuse ordinary constipation with intestinal obstruction. If constipation in children of 6 years old often goes away on its own, even without the help of medications, then with obstruction, the situation is different. That is why it is necessary to show the child to the doctor - for competent diagnosis.
Bowel obstruction is not a separate disease, but serves as a rather dangerous complication of some chronic pathologies. From the point of view of medicine, bowel obstruction is a clinical syndrome characterized by severe metabolic disorders (a disorder of protein, carbohydrate, water-mineral metabolism, acid-base condition of the blood) and a high risk of death among patients.
For constipation, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- the stool is irregular and often absent for two to three days;
- after eating, the child complains of nausea and vomiting;
- the child is very hard, but this does not facilitate the act of defecation;
- complete or partial loss of appetite;
- acute pain in the epigastric region.
What causes constipation in children 6 years old?
Regardless of age (with the exception of the underdevelopment of the abdominal organs), the causes of constipation are approximately similar in adults, children and adolescents.
Here are the most common causes of frequent constipation in a 6 year old child:
- The water regime is violated, and, as a result, the water-salt balance of the body (this condition occurs in case of poisoning or in the absence of a sufficient amount of clean drinking water in the diet).
- Improper nutrition - most often constipation leads to a deficiency of fats.
- Some chronic diseases of the abdominal organs.
- Psychosomatic causes.
- Parasitic infestation.
- Violation of the intestinal microflora.
Which doctor to go to and what tests to go
What to do with constipation in a child of 6 years? First of all, you need to contact the local pediatrician. Describe the symptoms for him. Most likely, standard tests will be prescribed: biochemical and general blood tests, feces for worm eggs and urine collection. After receiving the results, it will be possible to say whether the child’s body is undergoing an inflammatory or infectious process, whether helminthic invasions are present, and sugar levels and liver parameters are normal. Frequent constipation in a child of 6 years can indicate the presence of serious diseases. Nowadays, the age of diseases such as gastritis and pancreatitis has significantly “rejuvenated,” and often children suffer from these diseases.
If no obvious pathologies are detected, the pediatrician will give a referral for a consultation with a gastroenterologist and immunologist. These are doctors of specialization. The gastroenterologist will write out a direction for the study of intestinal microflora (it will be necessary to pass the baby's feces to the laboratory). In some cases, you will have to do an MRI or radiography of the abdominal organs. Depending on the results, medicines will be prescribed that restore the intestinal microflora, laxatives and medicines to envelop the gastric mucosa.
If you have a medical insurance policy, all examinations and analyzes are free of charge. If for some reason parents are not able to apply for a policy, they can go to private diagnostic centers, but in this case, diagnostics and tests will be paid.
An immunologist will examine the child and, if necessary, give recommendations on changing the daily diet and write out a prescription for immunomodulating drugs.
Diet for a child of 6 years with constipation
Often, parents underestimate the importance of proper nutrition. This is the basis - without healthy food there will be no healthy digestion.
When parents in a panic come to the therapist with the question “What should I do? The child is 6 years old constipated” and they hear the answer: “Establish nutrition”, they are distrustful of such a recommendation. People think that only medications with a laxative effect can help overcome persistent constipation. This is not so - it is worth changing the child’s diet for at least two weeks, and digestion will improve.
Here are the basic principles of the diet for constipation in children 6 years old:
- On a daily basis, high fiber foods are important in your diet.
- For lunch, the child should eat a plate of liquid hot food (borsch, cabbage soup, hodgepodge, soup).
- Eliminate bakery products, chocolate, and factory-made sweets to a minimum.
- You can give your child home-made crackers (toasts or cooked in the oven) without sugar, salt, spices.
- In the diet on a daily basis there should be cereals: oatmeal, buckwheat, rice (you need to cook them in water or milk, and add a little olive oil or linseed oil from the fats).
- As sweets, the child can be given honey and bee products;
- It is necessary to pay close attention to the water regime. A six-year-old baby should drink at least a liter of pure boiled or bottled water per day. Dehydration and water-salt imbalance are a common cause of constipation in children.
- To fill the calcium deficiency, the daily diet should include dairy products: cottage cheese, milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, ayran, yogurt, cheese.
Gastroenterologists recommend that with constant constipation in a 6-year-old child, prunes should be introduced into the diet (it does not matter if they are dried or fresh). It has a mild laxative effect. In many children, after regular consumption of it, the problem with constipation disappears by itself. Prunes are a natural laxative without side effects and contraindications. Children eat it with pleasure because of the sweet taste.
Functional constipation in children
Functional constipation occurs due to the following conditions:
- with a sharp bias in the diet towards fats or carbohydrates;
- during fasting;
- with a deficiency of pancreatic enzymes;
- due to an allergic reaction to certain foods;
- with some hormonal disorders;
- due to too frequent use of enemas and laxative drugs.
Functional constipation usually goes away on its own when addressing the cause that provoked them. Glycerin suppositories can be used from such constipation. Instructions for use warns that frequent use can lead to lazy bowel syndrome. It is optimal to apply to this method no more than twice a month, if absolutely necessary.
Psychosomatic problems in children and related constipation
They happen from time to time in every fifth child and do not acquire a chronic form. For example, if a child went to kindergarten or to visit, he will not be able to perform an act of defecation there even with a strong desire. At the same time, such problems do not arise in a homely, familiar environment. This is the essence of psychosomatic conditions and diseases: the pathology as such is not there, it is far-fetched.
Constipation can result from stress. Going to a new school or kindergarten, a long trip, a close relative's illness - all these situations are serious stress for the child's psyche.
In children, until puberty, a lot of problems arise precisely on psychosomatic grounds, so it is important for parents to show warmth, love and patience with their children. The more favorable the psychological climate around the child in the family and in kindergarten, the less likely it is that he will begin constipation of a psychosomatic nature.
Parents should think and beware if the child is six years old, all the tests are normal, there are no visible deviations and pathologies, and constipation does not go away. In some particularly severe cases, even laxatives do not help the baby conduct an act of bowel movement. If such a condition is observed in the child for more than two weeks, it is likely that the cause of constipation is in the field of psychology. You cannot leave everything as it is and let it drift - you need to find a competent and sensitive child psychologist who will help solve the problem.
Rectal suppository for constipation in children
The action of rectal suppositories is that with the direct introduction of the drug into the rectum, irritation occurs, and after that it relaxes its walls, which leads to bowel movements. Laxatives for children of six years are made not only in the form of candles, but also in the form of tablets. Emptying when taking the pill occurs after 7-9 hours, and when using a suppository, after two to three hours. So it is rectal suppositories that are more effective in case of constipation in a child of six to eight years.
Perhaps the safest in children with constipation are glycerin suppositories. Instructions for use informs that the main active ingredient in such suppositories is glycerol in a dosage of 1.5 grams. Glycerol is not absorbed through the rectal mucosa in newborns, has an irritating effect on the walls of the rectum and leads to rapid emptying. Almost no contraindications and side effects (except for individual intolerance).
Candles with hay are also good. But they have a rather aggressive effect on the intestinal mucosa, which can provoke prolonged diarrhea in the child.
No less effective are candles that contain sea buckthorn oil as the main active ingredient. It not only helps to relax the intestinal walls, but also moisturizes the mucous membrane. This contributes to the healing of anal fissures, often formed due to straining with constipation - in both children and adults.
List of the most effective rectal suppositories for constipation in a child
Here is a list of suppositories that can be used to treat constipation in children of six years:
- "Glycelax" - universal glycerin suppositories. Approved for use for children from three months. Gently and without side effects, they fight constipation of any etiology.
- Laxbene contains bisacodyl as its main active ingredient, which is a chemical compound derived from diphenylmethane. You should be careful with these candles: they have a powerful effect, but at the same time have many contraindications.
- "Sea buckthorn oil" in the form of candles is cheap (about a hundred rubles per pack of suppositories) and has virtually no contraindications. You can safely use these candles as a medicine for constipation in a child of 6 years.
It is worth remembering that any candles can be put to the child if the parent is sure that he has constipation, and not intestinal obstruction. Self-selection of a treatment method without preliminary diagnosis can be dangerous because it will cause internal bleeding or severe diarrhea.
Pharmacological preparations for constipation in children
For treatment, you can use not only candles, but also tablets, syrups, drops, capsules. Here is a list of popular laxatives for children aged five to ten years:
- Mikrolaks. An effective remedy for childhood constipation in the form of microclysters. The drug is tiny bottles that are inserted into the rectum, after which their contents should be squeezed out. Relief after using microclysters occurs in about two hours, in some cases - faster (the result depends on the individual reaction of the child to the drug). The cost of the drug is about two hundred rubles.
- "Lactulose." It is used both for the treatment of constipation and for their prevention. Available in powder or syrup form. The recommended dose for children 6-9 years old is from seven to ten milliliters per day. The cost of the drug in the region of one hundred rubles.
- "Sodium Picosulfate". Available in the form of drops or syrup. Virtually no side effects and contraindications (exception - individual intolerance to the components of the drug). With frequent use of high doses, it provokes liquefaction of feces and prolonged diarrhea.
- "Magnesium sulfate". A powerful laxative prescribed by a doctor. To treat constipation in a child, it is better to choose a milder remedy.
- "Help" is a laxative for treating constipation in children. It acts gently, practically does not irritate the intestinal wall. It has a minimum of contraindications and side effects. The average cost of a syrup is about two hundred rubles (it may be more, depending on the volume of the bottle).
- "Senade" - a drug with the main active ingredient of plant origin, is available in tablet form. Pressed senna leaves have an irritating effect on the intestinal wall, due to which its rapid emptying occurs. The average cost of a Senade package is three hundred rubles.
Whatever drug parents choose, it is worth remembering that the constant use of a laxative is addictive and lazy bowel syndrome. The treatment of constipation in a child of 6 years should be agreed with the doctor. Otherwise, instead of help, you can get complications.
Alternative methods of treatment
Many parents prefer popular methods of treating constipation. In some cases, this choice is really preferable, since simple methods of treating constipation are not addictive and have a minimum of contraindications. Folk remedies for constipation for a 6 year old child are simple and have the minimum required components.
- Dill water. This method is familiar to all parents, since it has no contraindications and is widely used even to treat constipation in infants. For older children, it is also effective. For six-year-olds, a higher concentration of dill water can be used. To do this, mix 100 grams of chopped dry dill with 200 ml of boiling water and let it brew for an hour. The resulting infusion to give the child an empty stomach of 50 ml. If constipation persists, you can increase the dosage to 100 ml. If two days have passed, and bowel movement has not occurred, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Dry prunes (100 g) and figs (100 g) are boiled for twenty minutes in 200 ml of boiling water. Give the resulting infusion to the child on an empty stomach, half a glass. The method is good, but it has an equally effective alternative - simply include prunes on a regular basis in a child’s daily diet. This fruit has a mild laxative effect, and literally after a couple of weeks, the manifestations of constipation can be forgotten.
- Fresh spinach has a mild laxative effect. You can make an infusion of chopped spinach stalks, or just make baby salads with this plant.
- The recipe for our grandmothers against constipation in children: give a drink a glass of fresh cow's milk. It effectively and quickly weakens even adults. You don’t need to eat anything - just drink milk. It should be careful with this method, since milk can cause prolonged diarrhea and disrupt the intestinal microflora.