Constipation Serious Problem for Kids

(November 28, 2008) - Car and airplane trips, holiday goodies, new toys and unfamiliar surroundings - the holidays are a crazy time for kids, often causing their bathroom habits to get out of whack. What might sound like a minor inconvenience is actually a common, sometimes serious problem for children, and not just around the holidays. Now a new study finds childhood constipation is costing us all. (Read about "Constipation") One in four children will have constipation at some point, caused by a number of things like, not eating enough fiber or fruits and vegetables, not wanting to use unfamiliar bathrooms and ignoring the urge to go while playing.

"Despite being considered by many a relatively benign condition, childhood constipation has been shown to be associated with a significantly decreased quality of life," said the study's author, Carlo Di Lorenzo, MD.

In the study, Di Lorenzo and his team found constipation can lead to serious health issues and skyrocketing costs, to the tune of nearly four billion dollars a year. That equals the cost of treating childhood asthma or even ADHD (Read about "Asthma" "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"), according to the study. Di Lorenzo says parents don't realize constipation can be just as serious. It can result in pain, problems at school and sometimes the need for surgery.

"It's traumatic to them, then they end up with low self esteem as if something is wrong with them and it's really not," says Hayat Mousa, MD. "Parents should talk to their children about their bathroom habits and make sure they are having a bowel movement at least every other day. For mild cases of constipation, prune or apple juice, high-fiber cereal, or over-the-counter softeners or laxatives made for children may help. If the problem persists, parents should seek the advice of a medical professional."