• Constipation in kids is very common, affecting 10-30% of children over the course of childhood.
• Symptoms include frequency of bowel movements less than three per week, fecal incontinence, large stools, painful defecation, and withholding behaviors.
• Causes include introducing solid foods, toilet training, and school-related anxiety.
• Treatment involves clearing any existing stool blockage, using laxatives and behavior modification, and increasing fiber and water intake.
• Miralax is the medication of choice, as it has been shown to be more effective than a placebo and other alternatives.
• Side effects are mostly related to digestion, and there is no evidence that it causes behavioral problems.
Published January 16, 2023. Visit ParentData to read Emily Oster’s original post [What To Do About Chronic Constipation]
