More than 44,000 children were accepted to the hospital with constipation last year, according to NHS The numbers that highlight the possible serious health consequences of the condition.
England and Wales data reveals a 60 % increase in hospital diagnoses for constipation among primary school students in the past decade, with increases in pre -school and secondary groups. Experts say more awareness of physical and misery that can be caused by the condition can be caused, which is sometimes trivial.
“We should not deal with many children to catch the hospital,” said Professor Monica Lakhfoul, a child’s professional consultant in Wittleton. health NHS Trust and University College London. “It is hidden. People are very embarrassed about it. People think they have committed something wrong as a parent and are not seeking early help.”
“This is not a simple thing for children.” This causes a long time in school, physical problems and emotional problems. “
Constipation is very common in children and often begins at the time of training. The reasons, in cases that are not caused by a basic medical condition, include Not eating enough fiber, dehydration and anxiety from going to the toilet and broader emotional problems.
If it is not dealt with early, children can enter a vicious cycle in which they are afraid to go to the toilet because it is painful, which leads to chronic constipation. This requires treatment with laxatives – sometimes for several months – and toilet training to create a regular intestine.
“It can cause stomach pain, it can cause vomiting, or you can get a little tears when you try to push strongly.” Some people will see in school because they are sought by or have winds with an unpleasant smell, which may cause emotional difficulties. ” .
NHS admission data showed a significant increase in the initial and secondary diagnosis of constipation in hospital patients in England and Wales during the past decade. Diagnosis increased in patients between the ages of 0-16 from 29,087 in 2014-15 to 44,161 in 2023-24, equivalent to an increase of 46 % when corrected for changes in the size of the population. The most important increase in children between the ages of 4-11 was seen from 9,977 in 2014-15 to 16,973 in 2023-24, a 60 % increase per rate per 100,000 population.
There was no increase in the number of patients who were accepted to the hospital in the first place due to constipation. So it is not clear whether the total rates are increasing or whether the greatest awareness means that more cases are taken in children in the hospital for other reasons. Some doctors said they see more cases and the option of factors, including poverty, food insecurity and children who start school before they are trained in the toilet.
“Constipation increases in children, and we know from this national diet survey that the sockets of fiber are not sufficient, along with food poverty and the cost of a living crisis, it affects children,” said Rebecca McMannamon, a dietitian and spokesperson for the British. Diet Association. “Many dining banks say that modest potatoes, which are a good source of fiber with their skin, are not taken because people cannot afford energy costs to cook them.”
McMannamon said that health consequences can be severe. “This can cause divergence and hemorrhoids as well as discomfort or headaches that can affect children from focusing in school, for example,” she said. “It is important to talk about it, especially for the most at risk in society.”
Juliet Rainer, CEO of Education and Resources to improve the continuation of childhood (Eric), a charitable intestine for children and bladder, said that some families are struggling to obtain GP dates, and with fewer health visitors, do not receive help until the problem becomes firm. She said: “In an ideal world, no child should offer in A& E with constipation.” “They should see his doctor.”
With a single conversation survey indicating this One in four children start school in England and Wales They are not trained in the toilet, and teachers are increasingly on the front lines to teach healthy toilet habits. However, schools have not been prepared for this role – and in some cases anxiety may be exacerbated due to Drakon rules.
Some high schools lock toilets outside the break, with one school in Wales According to what was suitable for metal projects to restrict accessWhile a recent report issued by Erik described the students who are forced to move in the policy of toilet “from one in one.”
“To get positive toilet habits, you need to reach the toilets when you need to go,” said Lachanoul. “If schools are organized in a way that children are afraid of putting their hands, this is not useful.”
