Caring for a child with
functional constipation

Caring for a child with
functional constipation

Functional constipation is when children have 2 or more of the following symptoms at least once per week for at least 1 month:

  • 2 or less poops in the toilet per week (after toilet training)
  • 1 or more poop accidents per week
  • Holding in poop
  • Difficulty passing poop or painful poop
  • Very big poops

Things that may contribute to functional constipation:

  • Holding in poop
  • Toilet training issues
  • Changes in routine or diet
functional constipation intro graphic
functional constipation nurse and patient
Diagnosis
Diagnosis

Your health care provider can help make sure there is no other cause for the constipation. Your doctor will work with you to make a treatment plan.


Most children do not need special testing or to see specialists to be diagnosed.

Treatment
Treatment

Treating your child’s functional constipation is important. Most cases of functional constipation do not go away on their own. Treatment prevents symptoms from getting worse and helps avoid more serious complications.

Most families will need to consider some of the following:

Medication
Medication

Safe medications for functional constipation draw water into the colon to make poop softer.

Children almost always need to take medicine for longer than they feel constipated – meaning treatment may last for months or even years to prevent symptoms from returning.

Accidents

Accidents are common in children with functional constipation.

When poop stays inside the colon for too long, it becomes hard and dry.  Muscles of the colon can also become too stretched, making it harder to move poop out of the body. Liquid poop can pass around the hard poop and leak into underwear.  Always having poop inside the colon can make it hard for children to recognize when they need to poop.

functional constipation information

What to do

Functional constipation causes many problems for families and without treatment, it can lead to chronic constipation and other complications.

Take your child to a doctor if the constipation lasts more than 2 weeks OR is accompanied by any of the following:

  • Blood in poop,
  • Part of the intestine coming out of the bum (prolapse),
  • Stomach swelling,
  • Fever,
  • Not eating

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© ECHO Research and ARCHE, 2020. This resource may not be modified, reproduced or distributed without prior written consent of ECHO Research and ARCHE. Contact shannon.scott@ualberta.ca

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This research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The information contained in this video/multimedia content (the “Multimedia”) is provided on an “as is” basis and is offered for general information and educational purposes only; it is not offered as and does not constitute professional advice. There is no guarantee about the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the information found in the Multimedia. This information is provided without warranty of any kind, and the University of Alberta, its agents, employees, and students disclaim responsibility to any party for any loss or damage of any kind that may arise directly or indirectly as a result of the use of or reliance on the information contained in the Multimedia.

Physical treatments can include physiotherapy, prescribed exercise plans, strengthening exercises, massage, and more. 

Psychological treatments can include counselling or talk therapy, supportive therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, mediation, and more. They can be provided on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting. 

Disclaimer

The information contained in the video/multimedia content (the “Multimedia”) is provided on an “as is” basis and is offered for general information and educational purposes only; it is not offered as and does not constitute professional advice. There is no guarantee about the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the information found in the Multimedia. This information is provided without warranty of any kind, and the University of Alberta, its agents, employees, and students disclaim responsibility to any party for any loss or damage of any kind that may arise directly or indirectly as a result of the use of or reliance on the information contained in the Multimedia.

These resources may not be modified, reproduced or distributed without prior written consent of ECHO Research. Contact shannon.scott@ualberta.ca.