All Conditions

Pediatric constipation

Constipation in children is a common, yet painful, condition in which the child has difficulty having bowel movements.

Overview

What is pediatric constipation?

When a child is constipated, a stool stays in their colon for too long. When this happens, the colon absorbs the fluid from the stool, which hardens the stool and makes it difficult to pass.

Children with constipation often experience:

  • Bowel movements with dry, hard or small stools

  • Less than two bowel movements in a week

Signs and Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric constipation?

Causes

What are the causes of pediatric constipation?

Constipation can occur due to a variety of reasons, including:

  • Not enough fiber in the child’s diet

  • Side effects from the child’s medication

Treatment

How is pediatric constipation treated?

Doctors and Providers