What is constipation?
- Constipation is a common symptom in children receiving palliative care.
- They may produce smaller harder stools than usual and they may go to the toilet less often than before
- Sometimes a child will strain to pass a hard stool or be unable to pass stools in spite of feeling the need
Constipation often produces other symptoms
- A bloated feeling
- Crampy abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Poor appetite
- General tiredness
Why is your child constipated?
- Some children may already have a problem with constipation before the present illness
- If your child’s tumour is in their abdomen, pelvis or bladder, it may press on the bowel
- Your child may become weak or less mobile, so their bowels may not work as well
- Your child may be unable to eat or drink enough as their disease advances
- Some essential medicine causes constipation
What can you do to help?
- Encourage fluids, especially water or fruit juice, although your child may become increasingly unable to drink lots
- If your child is still eating, foods high in fibre may help (e.g. fruit, vegetables, baked beans, wholemeal bread), but you should expect your child to eat less and less as time goes by
What medicines can you give?
There are different sorts of medication which work in different ways. Most children require a combination of different medications. The aim is to get a regular bowel habit, so try to give doses regularly.
- Softeners work by increasing the amount of fluid in the stool – this makes them softer and easier to pass
- Stimulants work by increasing the contractions along the bowel
- Sometimes, a child can be helped to pass stool with a suppository or an enema