Response:

Childhood constipation is a condition where a child has fewer than three bowel movements per week, passes dry and hard stools, strains significantly, or experiences pain during defecation. When stool moves slowly through the digestive tract, the large intestine absorbs more water, making the stool dry and difficult to pass. Children who are picky about vegetables and fruits and consume a lot of meat are prone to constipation. This condition is common among school-aged children, often linked to diet and lifestyle habits.

The most common cause of constipation is an unbalanced diet. Meat contains almost no fiber. If meals contain too much meat and insufficient green vegetables and fruits—important sources of fiber—stools become dry and hard. A lack of fiber results in small stool volume, making it difficult for stool to move through the intestines and leading to difficulty with bowel movements.

Additionally, inadequate water intake causes the large intestine to reabsorb more water, making stools even drier and harder. Some children also develop a habit of holding their stool due to being busy with school or reluctance to use school restrooms, causing stool to remain in the intestines longer and become harder to pass. If this situation persists, each bowel movement can be painful, causing the child to fear defecation and continue holding stool, worsening constipation.

Beyond these factors, childhood constipation can also be linked to changes in daily routines, stress from starting school, travel, changes in living environment, or in some cases, medication side effects or an imbalance in gut microbiota.

An unhealthy diet is a cause of constipation in children. Illustration. Source: AI

To alleviate constipation, parents must first adjust their child's diet and daily routine. Children should drink enough water daily; water requirements depend on weight, activity level, and health status. Children who are highly active, play sports, or have a fever or diarrhea may need more water.

Parents should increase fiber in the diet. For children who are picky about vegetables and fruits, parents can be flexible in preparation: finely chop vegetables and mix them into meatballs, spring rolls, or soup; make fruit smoothies; offer favorite fruits; add chia seeds and oats to yogurt; and increase whole grains like oats and whole wheat bread to support bowel motility. Parents should not completely remove meat from the diet, as children still need protein for growth. However, the menu should be balanced by reducing red meat and increasing fish, shrimp, tofu, and other diverse protein sources.

In addition to diet, children should be encouraged to exercise daily, such as walking or playing age-appropriate sports, to stimulate bowel motility. At the same time, children should be trained to have regular bowel movements, ideally 15-30 minutes after breakfast, and parents should avoid creating pressure when the child uses the restroom (e.g., scolding them).

If a child has not had a bowel movement for five days, parents should take the child to a healthcare facility for examination. Depending on the severity, the doctor may prescribe fiber supplements, stool softeners, or laxatives, and provide advice on age-appropriate diet and lifestyle to help the child pass stool more easily.

Parents should seek early medical attention if symptoms appear such as severe abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, blood in the stool, or if constipation does not improve after dietary and lifestyle adjustments.

Most constipation in 11-year-old children is functional constipation, which can improve well with early adjustments to diet and lifestyle. Parents need to pay close attention to their children and ensure timely intervention to reduce the risk of chronic constipation later on.

Master of Science, Doctor, Second-Degree Specialist Vu Dinh Phuong An

Pediatric Unit, Tam Anh General Clinic District 7