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Jun 29

Bowel Problems in Children: When It’s More Than an Upset Tummy – Healthline

Long Term Weight Loss Comments Off on Bowel Problems in Children: When It’s More Than an Upset Tummy – Healthline

No one wants to see their child sick, even if its just temporary. For example, the occasional upset stomach or diarrhea is expected if your child is home with stomach flu or eats something that doesnt agree with them. And often, the solution is simple eliminate troublesome foods or recover from the stomach flu.

But sometimes, you might suspect that theres something more going on. So, how do you determine that theres a more serious bowel or digestive problem with your child, and how do you work toward a long-term solution?

Lets look at some of the most common bowel problems that are found in children and their symptoms. Well also discuss treatment options and when you should contact a doctor or healthcare provider.

Digestive and bowel discomfort is quite a large health category, with many temporary or underlying causes that might be contributing to your childs tummy woes. But ultimately, you know your child better than anyone. So, if you see the following persistent symptoms, it might mean your child has a more serious digestive or bowel issue.

To receive a diagnosis of constipation, your child must be 4 years old or older and exhibit at least two or more of the below symptoms and experience them once a week for at least 2 months. Common symptoms include:

While uncomfortable, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) isnt life threatening for your child, nor does it cause them additional health problems or digestive tract damage.

Symptoms of IBS include:

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is another type of intestinal disorder that can cause inflammation in your childs digestive tract. Common forms of IBD include Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis.

Common symptoms include:

Unlike IBS, if left untreated IBD can create further complications such as bowel obstruction, malnutrition, and fistulas, and in more severe cases, it can contribute to colorectal cancer.

Hirschsprungs disease is a condition that impacts the large intestines. While its always present at birth, it can sometimes take a while for symptoms to appear. Children with Hirschsprungs disease may have trouble emptying their bowels. Symptoms can vary depending on your childs age.

Symptoms in newborns:

Symptoms in toddlers and older children:

While some formal diagnoses, such as constipation, wont be applied until certain timelines have been met, that doesnt mean that you cant see a pediatrician, or a doctor for infants and children, before then. For example, with constipation, if your childs symptoms and inability to pass stool have persisted for more than 2 weeks, youre encouraged to see a doctor.

And especially if your childs symptoms begin to get worse such as developing a fever, losing weight, or refusing to eat dont delay scheduling your child an appointment with a physician to start the diagnostic process and work toward a treatment plan.

The diagnostic process used to determine if your child has a bowel problem is going to depend on what disease or condition is suspected.

For example, childhood IBS and IBD both rely on a physical exam and a review of medical history (including family history). Depending on the results of initial reviews, a pediatrician may order a blood test, stool test, ultrasound, or even an endoscopy or colonoscopy.

Meanwhile, a suspicion of constipation will include a medical history and physical exam. It may sometimes also require other tests, such as a barium enema X-ray, abdominal X-ray, and even a motility test, if other conditions need to be ruled out, but often a doctor will be able to diagnose constipation without further tests.

A barium enema is also a primary tool for diagnosing Hirschsprungs disease, but a biopsy may also be necessary for this condition.

If youre concerned that the diagnostic process may be stressful for your child, make sure to talk with a doctor or pediatric team so you can know exactly what their testing process will be like.

Similar to diagnosing bowel problems, treatment methods can vary depending on your childs condition and the severity of it.

While constipation in children is very common, its also often undiagnosed and untreated. For many children, constipation can be treated at home by boosting fiber in their diet, increasing water intake, and encouraging more physical activity. With a doctors supervision, stool softeners or laxatives may be occasionally used.

IBD requires a comprehensive approach to treatment that incorporates both medication and dietary changes. The overall goal is to relieve symptoms and prevent future flare-ups to heal the intestines.

If an infection is suspected, your child might be prescribed antibiotics. But other treatments can include:

To treat IBS, nutritional changes are frequently encouraged, along with possibly being prescribed probiotics to help balance your childs gut. A doctor may also prescribe a range of different medications depending on their symptoms.

Depending on the type of IBS, your child may be prescribed medications to treat associated conditions such as constipation or even antidepressants depending on how severely the condition is impacting your childs quality of life.

Due to the seriousness of Hirschsprungs disease, surgery is the most effective method for treating the condition. Depending on the severity of their condition, children may either undergo one or two surgeries to remove the unhealthy part of their colon and treat the disease.

Although some bowel conditions arent life threatening, they can impact your childs quality of life. For example, conditions such as IBS which usually dont cause more concerning medical conditions can cause children to miss out on social events, or to even find it difficult to be present in school. This can negatively impact your childs mental health.

Meanwhile, if left untreated, other conditions can act as precursors to more serious health complications. Even constipation, which is incredibly common in children, can manifest into bladder control issues, fecal impaction, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, and even anal fissures.

Untreated IBD can lead to painful ulcers and damaging bowel inflammation. Additionally, it has been known to also cause rashes, arthritis, eye and liver problems, and slow growth and delayed puberty.

Because Hirschsprungs disease already prevents children from properly passing stools, leaving it untreated can be life threatening and lead to toxic enterocolitis.

Regardless of the source of your childs gastrointestinal distress, its important to get a treatment plan established with a doctor as soon as you can.

Sometimes an upset stomach or a case of diarrhea is temporary, and at other times it might be more serious. These bowel problems in children can be caused by a variety of conditions, some of which can lead to more health problems if not dealt with.

If you suspect that your childs tummy issues might be something more, be proactive and reach out to a pediatrician. When caught early, treatment can prevent further long-term problems that would impact your childs quality of life.

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Bowel Problems in Children: When It's More Than an Upset Tummy - Healthline

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