Constipation in children aged 3 years are among the most common pathologies of the digestive tract.. There can be both isolated cases of stool retention, and regular ones, for a long time, as the Internet publication for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old Pannochka reports.. net With regular constipation in children, it is necessary to consult a pediatricianStool retention is diagnosed in 5-20% of children. If a baby has a bowel movement disorder, especially if constipation occurs constantly, parents should consult a pediatrician or gastroenterologist.

CausesThree-year-old babies often eat almost the same as adults, but the gastrointestinal tract at this age is still actively developing. Cause the development of the pathological process in them can:.

lack of vegetable and / or excess food of animal origin in the diet (constipation is often observed in children who do not eat first courses or eat soups cooked in strong meat broth);

insufficient fluid intake;

change in climate zone or habitual environment;

taking certain medicines (such as antibiotics);

lack of regular bowel habits.

One of the common causes is untimely and / or incorrect potty training.. For example, it is not recommended to use a toilet equipped with a child seat for this purpose..

Delayed bowel movements may also be due to psychological reasons.. If a child starts going to kindergarten, stool delays may be due to a change in the menu, lack of proper sanitary conditions in a preschool child care institution (unpleasant smell in the toilet), stress due to an unusual environment.

Constipation can develop against the background of helminthic invasion. Animals, people can spread helminth eggs, infection can be caused by eating unwashed fruits, berries, vegetables, poorly processed meat products.

Symptoms Bowel movement in a three-year-old child normally occurs 1 time per day. No bowel movements for more than 36 hours may indicate constipation. Delayed stool can be 2-3 days or more.

There may be bowel movements with normal frequency, but the feces are scanty, dry, consist of hard fragments, in some cases there is stool smearing, which can be determined by the presence of traces of bowel movements on underwear.

When the child goes to the toilet, he may experience pain. Dense feces during bowel movements can injure the anus, which will cause cracks. When traumatized by dense fecal masses of the rectum and anus, blood may be detected in the stools. Often this leads to the child trying to avoid a bowel movement, which will cause even more hardening of the stool..

The condition may be accompanied by:.

loss of appetite;

flatulence;

rumbling in the stomach;

weakness, lethargy and fatigue.

There may be a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel after a bowel movement. The child may become capricious, irritable, whiny, he may experience a headache, fatigue, sleep disturbances.. The skin takes on an unhealthy sallow color, sometimes there is bad breath.

In the absence of bowel movements for several days, body temperature may rise, nausea and vomiting, and pain in the abdomen may occur..

Depending on the duration of the pathology, the delay in defecation is divided into acute constipation - a delay in defecation for 1 day or more against the background of normal bowel movement.;

chronic - persistent violation of bowel movements for a long time.

How to treatConstipation treatment should be selected by a pediatrician.

Drug therapy Depending on the cause, certain medications may be prescribed.. At the same time, it is very important to follow the dosage prescribed by the doctor and the duration of the use of medicines, since attempts to cure constipation on your own can aggravate the child's condition.. The uncontrolled use of laxatives is especially not recommended..

Drugs can be prescribed that soften the feces, drugs that promote the speedy healing of damaged areas of the rectum and anus. It can be rectal suppositories, microclysters, enemas.

General recommendations To develop the habit of regular bowel movements in the morning, you can drink it after waking up (on an empty stomach) with cool water or vegetable juice (0.5-1 cup).

Light massage a few times a day (eg, light clockwise circles around the abdomen) may help..

Therapeutic exercise In the presence of chronic constipation, regular adequate physical activity is indicated, including morning exercises, walking and active outdoor games, swimming.

It can be very effective to perform exercises from the exercise therapy cycle at home.. One of the simple and effective exercises that helps to improve bowel function: alternately pulling in the abdomen and relaxing the muscles of the press. Charging for young children can be carried out in the form of a game. For example, you can scatter small toys on the floor and invite the baby to collect them, bending over each of the standing positions..

Nutrition Correction In many cases, in order to completely get rid of constipation in a 3-year-old baby, it is enough to establish nutrition.

Cooking recommendations1. Feed your baby at about the same time.

Avoid dry snacks.

Do not drink cold liquids with food, as this may reduce the time the food stays in the stomach, which can lead to an aggravation of the patient's condition.

Keep drinking - give your child more fluids and liquid foods, as dehydration contributes to constipation.

Products that promote regular stoolsProducts.

Description.

Dried fruits.

Helps to increase the volume of intestinal contents. Dry apples, pears, plums can be mashed (raw materials are poured with a small amount of clean water, left overnight, and in the morning they are mashed and given to the child along with the resulting infusion). At the same time, children of the first years of life are not recommended to use prunes and dried apricots..

Vegetables.

Vegetables and fruits should make up approximately 50% of the daily diet. They can be consumed fresh (vegetables cut into pieces or salads from them), as well as subjected to heat treatment (soups, mashed potatoes, stewed, baked, fried vegetables). It is recommended to include dishes with various types of cabbage in the diet (Brussels and cauliflower are especially useful), carrots, beets, pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet peppers, leafy greens.

Dairy products (yogurt, kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese, sour cream).

With regular use, they contribute to the establishment of intestinal functions.. It is essential that the products are fresh and of high quality..

Juices.

Freshly squeezed juices from vegetables, fruits and berries can help improve bowel function.. Especially useful are apricot, carrot, pumpkin, apple, plum. Juices are recommended to be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:1-1:3.

wheat bran.

Wheat bran stimulates peristalsis, can absorb allergens and toxins, and also contains B vitamins.. Children 3 years of age are usually recommended to consume 5-10 g of bran per day (be sure to consult a pediatrician beforehand).

Beverages.

It is recommended to drink clean water. It is advisable to give children bottled and / or water purified with household filters, as well as boiled water cooled to room temperature..

Diet adjustments are often enough to solve problems with stool retentionFoods to limitReason for restriction.

Products.

Reduce bowel contractions.

Boiled potatoes and carrots, bananas, pears, quince, blueberries, jelly, jelly and mousses, semolina and rice porridge.

May adversely affect digestive function in children, including causing constipation.

Fresh black and white bread, pastry, hard cheese, fatty meat (duck, lamb, pork), canned food, smoked products, eggs, fresh onions, mushrooms, garlic, meat (bone) broths and soups based on them, mayonnaise.

Foods That Promote Gas.

Sweets, whole milk, legumes.

Prevention In order to prevent it is necessary:.

form the habit of going to the toilet at about the same time in the baby (best in the morning after breakfast);

protect children from stressful situations, physical overload;

establish proper nutrition, for which you can consult a nutritionist;

provide the baby with regular and adequate physical activity, do not allow him to lead a sedentary lifestyle;

refuse self-treatment of children for any diseases, especially self-administration of medications. For any health concerns, consult your pediatrician..

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