Constipation

Question 1

what are the main signs of constipation>

Answer 1

poor appetite 
irritable 
lack of energy
abdominal pain
distention
withholding or straining
diarrhoea
loss of sensation to move bowels

symptoms improve after defecation but gradually get worse again.

Question 2

what are common causes of constipation in children?

Answer 2

Opiates
gaviscon
hypothyroidism
too much milk
cystic fibrosis
hirschsprungs disease

Question 3

what is the first line laxative treatment for constipation?

Answer 3

Movicol.

Question 4

what is megarectum?

Answer 4

when the child holds onto their stool until the rectum becomes dilated and pushes forward onto the urethra – this means children often don’t open their bladder properly and this leads to UTI.

Question 5

how long should you use constipation treatment for?

Answer 5

until symptoms resolve, but they should be used for AT LEAST the same length of tie that the patient has been experiencing symptoms for.

Question 6

what are red flags for constipation?

Answer 6

Not passing the meconeum within the first 48hrs
vomiting
ribbon like stools

Question 7

what is Hirschsprung disease?

Answer 7

congenital condition where the nerve cells of the myenteric plexus are abscent in the dstal bowel and rectum. It is responsible for peristalsis, without this the bowel loses motility and stops being able to pass food along the entire length.

Question 8

what are the side effects of osmotic laxatives?

Answer 8

Lactulose - can cause lots of gas and rot your teeth.

Question 9

what are the side effects of stimulant laxatives?

Answer 9

Senna or pico sulphate - can cause crampy pains.

Question 10

what are examples of isotonic laxiatives?

Answer 10

laxido

movicol