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3 Year Kid, Holding Bowel Movements For Days, In Fear Of Passing Motion. Suggestions?
My 3 year old grandson holds in his bowel movements for days or weeks to the point that he is in pain - it seems he is in fear of passing a motion all was fine with his bowels until one day he just started with this problem - he is still in nappies due to this and hides trying not to use his bowels and have to go to the toilet where he says he does not know how to do anything
posted on
Fri, 2 Aug 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 3 Aug 2013
Answered on
Mon, 5 Aug 2013
Last reviewed on
Hi,
Thank you for your query on Healthcare Magic.
This problem of holding bowel is common around this age group and this will leads to functional constipation.
Due to hard stools, there will be pain because of laceration of rectal mucosa and fissure formation.
Give him plenty of oral fluids and dietary fiber rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and leafy vegetables.
Oral stool softeners like lactulose can be give in prescribed dose to make stool soft.
Consult the doctor to look for anal fissure and advise on diet and medication.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards.
Thank you for your query on Healthcare Magic.
This problem of holding bowel is common around this age group and this will leads to functional constipation.
Due to hard stools, there will be pain because of laceration of rectal mucosa and fissure formation.
Give him plenty of oral fluids and dietary fiber rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and leafy vegetables.
Oral stool softeners like lactulose can be give in prescribed dose to make stool soft.
Consult the doctor to look for anal fissure and advise on diet and medication.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards.
I find this answer helpful
3 Doctors agree with this answer
Hi,
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
I can understand your concern.
First you should get him examined to look if there is any laceration of the rectal mucosa. Such tears of the rectal mucosa which occur after passing a hard stool result in considerable pain. Because of this pain they do not pass stool.
If this is the cause first pain relief should be given. Give him fiber rich diet and plenty of water to drink.
Continue to ask further queries as required.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Thanks for writing to health care magic.
I can understand your concern.
First you should get him examined to look if there is any laceration of the rectal mucosa. Such tears of the rectal mucosa which occur after passing a hard stool result in considerable pain. Because of this pain they do not pass stool.
If this is the cause first pain relief should be given. Give him fiber rich diet and plenty of water to drink.
Continue to ask further queries as required.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Dr Y V Siva Sankara Murty
M.D.(Pediatrics)
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
I find this answer helpful
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