Constipation
Obstipation (Latin name)By Bjarne Lühr Hansen PhD, MD and Philipp Skafte-Holm MD, Mentor Institute
Fever and scratches in the rectum may lead to constipation. Laxatives are recommended. If your child vomits, you must call the doctor immediately.
It can be difficult to determine whether a child is constipated. The number of defecations is not important it is important, however, whether the child is bothered in connection with defecation. There is talk of constipation when the stool is hard and tuberous while the child is bothered.
The frequency of defecations varies from child to child and changes with age. Children who are breastfed can defecate as rarely as every second week, whereas children who are given formula defecate more frequently. After the age of 1 most children defecate at least every other day.
Children with constipation scream and become stiff when they defecate. Small children are often uneasy and tip around on their toes. Larger children often squat with their heals put against their rectum. After painful defecation with tuberous stools, the children cheer up. Now, they eat better and feel fine, until it all starts over once again.
Often, there is an explanation to the cause of constipation. However, prolonged fever and scratches in the rectum can lead to constipation. If the child screams/cries in connection with defecation or if there is blood in the stool, this can indicate a scratch in the rectum.
It is important to take constipation seriously and seek treatment. Often, a viscous cycle develops where the constipation cause hard stool, the hard stool cause pain, which is why the child will try to avoid defecation (‘holds back’) so that the constipation worsens.