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BOO-BOOS, GERMS & PAP SMEARS:
Health Tips for Your Family
"Mom! I Can't Go Poop!"
Kids' Constipation Is a Significant
Health Issue, Experts Say
by Kathy Sena
The burden of illness in children suffering from constipation,
and the costs associated with this condition, are roughly the same as those for asthma and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
according to new research conducted at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The findings were published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
I admit that I had no idea children's constipation was this much of an issue.
Doctors and researchers analyzed data for children and teens under age 18 who were diagnosed with
constipation or who were prescribed a laxative for two consecutive years. Results showed that U.S.
children with constipation used health services amounting to an additional $3.9 billion each year.
"Despite being considered by many a relatively benign condition, childhood constipation has been shown
to be associated with a significantly decreased quality of life," says the study's author, Carlo Di Lorenzo, M.D., chief of
gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at NCH and a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
"The day-to-day struggle caused by constipation can often be emotionally devastating, and can also have an impact
on the overall health and well-being of affected children and their families."
"In many cases, constipation in children can be prevented or corrected through dietary and behavioral changes,"
says Hayat Mousa, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at NCH and a faculty member at The OSU College of Medicine.
"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," he says. "If the problem persists,
parents should seek the advice of a medical professional."
Kathy Sena is an award-winning health and parenting writer and the mother of a 12-year-old son.
Visit her website at KathySena.com
and check out her blog, Parent Talk Today, at
ParentTalkToday.com.
*The opinions stated aren't necessarily those of MommaSaid or its principals. Seek professional advice before beginning any health program.
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