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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Child Having Hard Stools, Hurts, Bleed. How To Manage It Naturally. What Should Be Done?

My daughter (4 1/2yo) is having hard stools , it is causing her problems with going to the toilet as sometimes it hurts her and also causes small tears which results in bleeding, so she avoids going which in turns makes it a further problem. We eat a very balance diet with lots of grains, variety of fruit and I only manage to get her to eat two vegies per day (potato and normally cauliflower ). I would like to manage it naturally. What should I do? Suggest foods to do and not to do
Thu, 7 Mar 2013
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Pediatrician, Surgery 's  Response
Hello
Thank you for your query. You have diagnosed your problem accurately. Most commonly dietary problems cause some constipation. While passing the hard stool, there are tears near the anus called fissures. They cause pain and hence the child avoids passing stools again. The stools remain in the intestine and water is absorbed further making the stools harder and this vicious cycle continues. So we need to treat all these aspects. Firstly give your child lots of fluids. Also avoid refined flour and junk food in your child's diet. Instead promote fibres like green leafy vegetables, carrots and fruits (potatoes and cauliflowers don't help). Then to relieve the fissure make your child sit in mild warm water for 10 - 15 min three to four times every day. Apply some cream like SMUTH near her anus. For initial treatment some laxatives will help. Add extra two spoons of sugar in your child's milk. That too acts as a laxative. Give some honey to your child daily. For proper prescription you should consult a pediatric surgeon.
Hope that helps
God bless you
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Emergency Medicine Specialist Dr. Sheeba Stephen's  Response
Hello and welcome to health care magic. Thanks for your query.

Since your child is suffering from constipation , I would suggest you to decrease the amount of constipating foods in your child's diet . Examples of constipating foods are cow's milk, ice cream, cheese, and yogut.

Increase fiber content in the food.your child is 4 years old so he/she requires 9 to 10 grams of fiber per day in the diet i.e lots of fruits and green leafy vegetables.

Never try suppositories/enema unless s advised by your pediatrician .
You can encourage your child to have sitz bath ( sitting in a tub of hot water for 10 to 15 min)which will relax the anal sphincter and helps if your child has developed fissures/bleeding while passing hard stools.

If above home remedies fails then you have to consult pediatrician to look for any fecal impaction.

Wish you all the best
Regards
DR SHEEBA STEPHEN
( Emergency consultant)
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General & Family Physician Dr. Ramesh M.Vachharajani's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to HCM,
Give plenty of water.
Give more fiber containing diet.
Give banana, papita, cullinger, oranges.
Give more green vegetables and salads and veg. juice.
For the time being you may give liq. crimaffin till her stool softens.
If stool is too hard you may insert Glycerine child suppositories.
Ok and bye.
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Child Having Hard Stools, Hurts, Bleed. How To Manage It Naturally. What Should Be Done?

Hello Thank you for your query. You have diagnosed your problem accurately. Most commonly dietary problems cause some constipation. While passing the hard stool, there are tears near the anus called fissures. They cause pain and hence the child avoids passing stools again. The stools remain in the intestine and water is absorbed further making the stools harder and this vicious cycle continues. So we need to treat all these aspects. Firstly give your child lots of fluids. Also avoid refined flour and junk food in your child s diet. Instead promote fibres like green leafy vegetables, carrots and fruits (potatoes and cauliflowers don t help). Then to relieve the fissure make your child sit in mild warm water for 10 - 15 min three to four times every day. Apply some cream like SMUTH near her anus. For initial treatment some laxatives will help. Add extra two spoons of sugar in your child s milk. That too acts as a laxative. Give some honey to your child daily. For proper prescription you should consult a pediatric surgeon. Hope that helps God bless you