Elimination problems in infants and children
by SG Jimenz
Elimination of the wastes of the body particularly bowel movement of an
infant or child is a major concern of many parents and caretakers. They do not know
at times if the child has normal or abnormal patterns of defecation and when to
seek for doctor's advice.
It is the aim of this article to help parents understand the problem of constipation.
The following questions will be answered:
1. When do we label a child as having constipation?
2. What is the normal number of bowel movements in an infant or child?
3. What are the causes of constipation?
4. What is functional constipation?
5. When do I need to bring my child to a physician?
6. What initial remedies can I offer at home to my constipated child?
When do we label a child as having constipation?
Constipation is a symptom which means a decrease in the number of
defecations per day and/or a change in the consistency of stools. Thus, it also
considered in a child having daily bowel movements but has painful defecation because
of hard, dry and unusually large stools. It is a common problem in infants and children.
Actually, it is considered as the bread and butter of pediatric gastroenterologists
since it accounts for 25% of our out-patient consults. Though it is a frequent symptom,
it seldom carries a significant cause in this age group as we will find out later.
What is the normal number of bowel movement of an infant
or a child?
The normal frequency of bowel movements according to age:
Even though we have the above data, it has been proven that in reality there is
no right number for daily or weekly bowel movements. The child may pass out stool
every other day but still considered normal. For me, the rule is that as long as
the child has no symptoms like abdominal pain (which occur in 60% of children with
constipation) or anal pain, vomiting or fever accompanying the irregular bowel movement,
I still considered them as normal. The numbers of bowel movements vary from person
to person because of the differences in genetic composition, diet and lifestyle.
What are the causes of constipation?
Before I present the common causes of constipation in children we
first need to understand what happens during a bowel movement. For defecation to
proceed, one needs a normal rectum for stool storage and puborectalis muscle, normal
internal and external anal sphincters to push the stools out and normal nerve innervations
for coordinated movements. One also needs enough water in the rectum to give bulk
to the stools and normal movements of the colon to push the stools out of the rectum.
Absence of any of the above may lead to constipation.
CAUSES:
1. Functional constipatio
This is the most common cause of constipation in children."Functional"
meaning no organic pathology can be found after a thorough history, a normal physical
examination and normal diagnostic work ups. Children who develop functional constipation
associate discomfort with defecation. The most common cause of discomfort or pain
is anal fissures, use of suppositories or fleet enemas secondary to large stools.
What happen is that because of the pain that they feel, the child withholds the
stools in order to prevent expulsion and the pain it is expected to bring. Stool
collects in the rectum, in time the rectum becomes big. As it enlarges it become
less capable of evacuating the stools and its sensory capacity diminish thus making
retention easier. Eventually, the constipation becomes self-perpetuating.
The Rome criteria, formulated by a group of pediatricians, are symptom-based criteria
to differentiate among the different types of functional constipation which are:
1. Infant dyschezia
a. 10 minutes of straining and crying before successful passage of soft stool in
a normal infant (this may occur both in breastfed and bottlefed infants)
b. less than 6 months of age
2. Functional constipation
In infants and preschool children , at least 2 weeks duration of:
a. scybalous, pebblelike, hard stools
b. firm stools, two or fewer times per week
c. No evidence of structural , metabolic and endocrine disease
3. Functional fecal retention
From infancy to age 16 years, a history of at least 12 weeks of:
a. passage of large diameter stools at intervals less than two times per week
b. Retentive posturing, avoiding defecation by purposefully contracting the pelvic
floor
c. As the pelvic floor muscles fatigue, using the gluteal muscles, squeezing the
buttocks together
4.Functional nonretentive fecal soiling
Once a week or more for the preceding 12 weeks in a child older than 4 years with
a history of defecation into places at times inappropriate to the social context
in the absence of structural or inflammatory disease and signs of fecal retention.
2. Dietary causes
1. Lack of fiber in the diet- low intake of vegetables, fruits,
whole grains.
2. Lack of water in the diet
3. Intake of drugs that affect motility
1. Antacids like aluminum magnesium hydroxide
2. Iron supplement
4. Metabolic and endocrine diseases
Hypothyroidism- common in babies or children born of mothers with
hyperthyroidism or goiter. Affected child is slow in everything including slow movement
of the gastrointestinal tract thus causing constipation.
5. Neurologic and psychiatric conditions
Mental retardation- constipation is a common accompanying symptom since children
with mental retardation usually are sedentary with an associated slow movements
of the muscles including the muscles of defecation.
6. Problems in the colon and rectum
Hirschsprung's disease- constipation in the newborn period, in contrast to constipation
in older children, should always be a concern to the attending physician and the
family. Failure of passage of meconium or the first black stools of the newborns
in the first 24-48 hours especially if it is associated with abdominal distension,
greenish vomitus means that there might be hirschsprung's disease. It is a problem
in the nerves leading to failure of the normal movements in the colon. The treatment
is a surgical procedure known as endorectal pullthrough. This is one of the causes
of constipation wherein surgical referral is mandatory. If you will notice most
of the other causes can be managed by medical treatment.
When do I need to bring my child to a physician?
As I have shown you, constipation in children is more often functional
unless you see the following red flags necessitating immediate consult:
1. age of onset less than 12 months
2. delayed passage of meconium (more than 24-48 hours)
3. failure to gain weight
4. no withholding- because of the pain that a child experience during defecation
usually they withhold it in functional constipation
5. no soiling- in functional constipation because of the inability to pass out stools
usually they have overflow incontinence thus soiling
6. empty rectal vault on rectal examination
7. cutaneous pigmentary abnormalities
8. presence of extraintestinal symptoms
9. urinary bladder disease
10. no response to conventional treatment
What initial remedies can I offer at home?
• Increase fluid intake- ideal to drink 8 glasses of day in children.
Avoid cola drinks since it has a dehydrating effect on the stools.
• Increase fibers in the diet- offer foods such as vegetables carrots and cabbage,
fruits grapes, prunes, papaya, whole grains, corn, nuts. Avoid foods low in fibers
like cheese, eggs and meats. Recommended fiber intake per day is around 20-35gms
per day. Limit chocolates and ice cream too. One may also use fiber supplement pills
to increase fiber in the body.
• In infants, one may add nonabsorbable carbohydrate in the milk such as that present
in dark corn syrup or Karo syrup.
• As much as possible, avoid giving suppositories since it cause a lot of pain and
trauma to the child.
If all of the above fails, then better seek professional help. For the medical treatment
of long standing constipation it needs 3 things(that is after ruling out the organic
causes of constipation):
Initial disimpaction- to empty the rectal vault either with an enema or castor oil.
The dose will depend on the age.
Maintenance- to prevent reaccumulation of fecal materials and to allow the rectum
to return to normal size. Most commonly used medications are Lactulose, senna concentrate
or mineral oil.
Follow up- to determine when the laxatives can be discontinued.
Conclusion:
Constipation the decrease in the frequency of bowel movements per
day and/or the change in the consistency of the stools.
There is no definite numbers in terms of the normal bowel movement per day or per
week. It varies from one person to the other
In children, the most common cause of constipation is functional constipation.
Parents and caregivers should be aware of the red flag signs in constipation.
In taking care of children with constipation, one may try home remedies first and
it the symptoms will persist then better seek professional help.
References:
Hussain SZ, Di Lorenzo C. Motility Disorders. The Pediatric Clinics
of North America 49: 42-45, Feb 2002
Johnson KB, Oski FA. Oski's Essential Pediatrics. Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia
,1997