Constipation in children - Treatments
- Previous page
- page
In this section
Most children get constipation from time to time. Usually it lasts just a few days and clears up without any treatment. But in some children, it doesn't go away and it may get worse.
If your child has ongoing constipation (called chronic constipation), the good news is that treatments can help. But it can take a while for treatments to work, so you'll need to be patient.
Key points about treating constipation in children
- If you're worried about your child's constipation, see your doctor. The problem can get worse if you wait.
- Giving your child food with lots of fibre is likely to help with constipation. Some examples of high-fibre foods your child might eat are wholegrain breakfast cereals, raw carrots and apples.
- Constipation is often treated with medicines called laxatives that help get your child's bowels moving.
- There are several different types of laxatives. There is evidence that the type of laxatives that make stools softer are likely to work.
- Laxatives that make stools softer are also used if your child's bowels become completely blocked with large hard stools (called impacted faeces).
- You can take some steps to help your child stay regular. To learn more, see Keeping your child's bowels healthy.
Treatments for constipation in children
So which treatments work best? We've carefully weighed up the research and divided treatments into the following categories. You can find out more about each treatment by clicking on the links below.
For more help in deciding what treatment is best for your child, see .
Treatments that are likely to work
- Eating more high-fibre foods: Eating foods that have lots of fibre makes your child's stools bulkier and easier to pass. More...
- Laxatives to make stools softer: These medicines are also called osmotic laxatives. They help the bowels add water to the stools, so they are easier to pass. Examples are lactulose and macrogols (brand names Idrolax, Movicol, Movicol Paediatric Plain). More...
Treatments that need further study
- Other types of laxatives: These medicines make passing stools easier. There are different types that work in different ways. Examples are bisacodyl (Dulco-lax) and senna (Ex-Lax, Senokot). More...
- Non-drug treatments: These include biofeedback (therapy to help your child learn to relax the right muscles to let stools out), keeping a diary, and toilet training. More...
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
