Diagnose

The healthcare provider will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. He or she will give your child a physical exam. Depending on how old your child is, you might be asked questions such as: How old was your baby when he or she had their first stool? How often does your child have… Continue reading Diagnose

Symptoms

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They may include: Not having a bowel movement for a few days Passing hard, dry stools Having belly (abdominal) bloating, cramps, or pain Not feeling hungry Showing signs of trying to hold stool in, such as clenching teeth, crossing legs, squeezing buttocks together, turning red in… Continue reading Symptoms

Underlying physical problem

 In rare cases, constipation can be caused by a larger physical problem. These physical issues can include: Problems of the intestinal tract, rectum, or anus Nervous system problems, such as cerebral palsy Endocrine problems, such as hypothyroidism Certain medicines, such as iron supplements, some antidepressants, and narcotics such as codeine

Diet and Other

Eating too many foods that are high in fat and low in fiber. These include fast foods, junk foods, and soft drinks. Not drinking enough water and other fluids Having a change in diet. This includes when babies change from breastmilk to formula, or when they start eating solid foods. Lack of exercise Children who… Continue reading Diet and Other

Causes

Stool gets hard and dry when the large intestine (colon) takes in (absorbs) too much water. Normally, as food moves through the colon, the colon absorbs water while it makes stool. Muscle movements (contractions) push the stool toward the rectum. When the stool gets to the rectum, most of the water has been soaked up.… Continue reading Causes

Complications

In some cases, children with ulcerative colitis will need to be admitted to a hospital. Ulcerative colitis that begins in childhood is also more likely to affect a large portion of the colon. How much of the colon is affected is linked to how serious the disease is. Having a condition that causes chronic upset… Continue reading Complications

Treatment

Treatment for ulcerative colitis can depend on how severe your child’s symptoms are, and how well their disease responds to treatment. Ulcerative colitis in adults is sometimes treated with a special kind of enema that has medication. However, children often can’t tolerate receiving the enema. If they can take medications, some treatments include: aminosalicylates, to reduce inflammation in… Continue reading Treatment

Diagnosis

There’s no one test used to diagnose a child with ulcerative colitis. However, your doctor can do many different tests to rule out other conditions that have symptoms similar to ulcerative colitis. They’ll begin by doing a physical exam and taking a health history of your child’s symptoms. They‘ll ask what makes the symptoms worse and better,… Continue reading Diagnosis

Causes

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes ulcerative colitis. Researchers think that in some cases, a virus or bacteria may cause an inflammatory reaction in the colon. Research has also been examining whether a lack of beneficial gut bacteria could be a contributing cause. Some risk factors for the condition have been identified. One of the main risk factors for… Continue reading Causes