Let’s Get Medical
Any other Oliva Newton John fans out there? No? Just us? Man we’re old. Her song, Let’s Get Physical, came out in 1981! That’s a hard one to believe.
Anyways, back to constipation….
When your child is miserable from constipation, it is natural for you to want to try anything and everything to solve the problem as quickly as possible. It can be an awful feeling to watch helplessly while your child may be struggling and feeling so uncomfortable. Your parental instinct might be to look for solutions that have worked for other kids and try them asap. Before trying remedies that you find on the internet or hear from someone in your mom’s group, its most important to uncover WHY your child is constipated. The solution for your child’s constipation lies in figuring out WHY they are constipated in the first place. If you try a slew of treatments without figuring out why it is happening, you may just be putting a band aid on the problem rather than fixing it long term. Although the majority of the time we can look at causes being things like diet, fluid intake, medications, or other issues like pelvic floor function, withholding poop or having fears about using the potty, there are also medical issues that can contribute.
Did you know that 1 out of every 20 visits to the Pediatrician in the U.S. is for constipation? Healthcare Providers have a wealth of knowledge to help you rule out (or in) medical diagnoses that may be the culprit. Explore with your child’s Healthcare provider if their constipation might be caused from an underlying medical condition. If there is a medical issue present, it often brings to light what the correct solution for the constipation might be.
We chatted about medical conditions on Facebook recently.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the most common medical causes of constipation are Hirschsprung’s Disease, Spinal Cord or Brain Injury, Anatomical Abnormalities, Celiac Disease, Hypothyroidism, and Type 1 Diabetes. Let’s explore these conditions and explain how they cause constipation. Let’s take a closer look at these
Hirschsprung’s Disease is a rare condition a baby is born with, that will usually be diagnosed in the first few weeks of life when it becomes apparent that the baby cannot pass stool normally. Baby becomes constipated because nerve cells in their bowel are underdeveloped and fail to send the signals needed to tell the brain to empty the bowel. This disorder occurs in about 1 in 5000 births and can be common in children with Downs Syndrome. It can happen in older children and adults, however there would likely be a history of severe constipation. This disorder is treated with surgery.
Spinal Cord damage, such as Spina Bifida, or a Traumatic Brain Injury also can cause constipation. It occurs because there is an interruption of the signal needed for intestinal motility (fancy term for poop moving through the bowel). An injury to the spine or brain such as this would be present from birth or from an obvious trauma that the child had endured.
An Anatomical Abnormality of the bowel is when there is a problem in the structure of the intestines where the parts are not formed as they should be therefore not allowing it to function properly. Constipation could be one symptom of this abnormality. Examples of structural problems in the intestine might be parts of organs being in the wrong place, shaped abnormally, or incorrectly connected to other organs. These are also much less common and likely would have resulted in an urgent visit to the doctor where they would diagnose it pretty quickly. Surgery is usually in order for these types of issues.
Constipation is a common issue in children with Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes happens when the pancreas loses its ability to produce insulin. This usually occurs after an acute illness. Other symptoms that are usually apparent include increased thirst & urination. Type 1 Diabetes can damage nerves in the colon which can lead to changes in bowel motility thus causing constipation.
The next two medical conditions, Celiac Disease and Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed easily with appropriate blood tests. Testing for these may be recommended to rule out these as possible causes for the constipation.
Celiac Disease is when an intolerance to gluten is present. Gluten is found predominantly in foods containing wheat, barley and rye and causes the villi (fingerlike projections that absorb nutrients) in the intestine to be essentially cut off. This lack of functioning villi causes malabsorption of nutrients which in turn can have food in the bowel piling up. Thankfully full recovery of the villi in the intestine can be obtained over time with a diet free from gluten. Celiac disease is one of those unfortunate things that can go undiagnosed for years but once discovered is easily treated by avoiding foods containing gluten. Celiac Disease is near and dear to Jessica as she was diagnosed over 20 years ago after being sick for most of her life. For more great resources including symptoms, treatment, and eating gluten free, visit Celiac Disease Foundation at celiac.org
In a condition called Hypothyroidism, hormones in our body produced by the thyroid gland, that help to regulate multiple body systems, are no longer produced at necessary levels for normal functioning. Consequently, everything slows down including the motility of our food moving through our intestines, digestion and ultimately elimination. This slowed gut motility ultimately causes the child to be constipated. Once discovered with a blood test, this disorder can be treated with medication.
Once you have successfully explored and possibly ruled out these medical conditions, then taking a magnifying glass to your child’s nutrition, hydration, pelvic floor function, fears, etc., is the next step. Have questions about your child’s constipation? Reach out to us!! We’d be happy to talk more with you about your child’s situation. Connect with us via email: https://www.constipationgurus.com/contact
Does your child have a diagnosis of one of these medical reasons for constipation? How has having the diagnosis changed your child’s bowel health?
