Constipation in 

Children 

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse 

U.S. Department 

of Health and 

Human Services 

NATIONAL 

INSTITUTES 

OF HEALTH 

What is constipation? 

Constipation is a condition in which bowel 

movements occur less frequently than usual 

or stools tend to be hard, dry, and difficult 

and painful to pass. 

Constipation is common in children and is 

usually without long-term consequences; 

however, it can diminish a child’s quality of 

life, cause emotional problems, and create 

family stress. Rarely, constipation is a sign 

of a more serious health problem. 

What causes constipation in 

children? 

Children often develop constipation as a 

result of stool withholding. They may withhold stool because they are stressed about 

potty training, are embarrassed to use a 

public bathroom, do not want to interrupt 

playtime, or are fearful of having a painful 

or unpleasant bowel movement. 

Delaying a bowel movement causes stool 

to become hard, dry, and difficult to pass— 

sometimes resulting in a large mass of stool 

in the rectum called a fecal impaction. 

Stool builds up behind the impaction and 

may unexpectedly leak, soiling a child’s 

underwear. Parents often mistake this soiling as a sign of diarrhea. 

Liver 

Stomach 

Large 

intestine 

(colon) 

Small 

Rectum 

Anus 

intestine 

The gastrointestinal tract. 

Other causes of constipation in children 

include 

•	 a	low-fiber	diet	

•	 certain	medications	or	drugs,	such	as	

antacids, opiates, and antidepressants 

•	 diseases,	such	as	Hirschsprung	disease,	

diabetes, and Down syndrome 

•	 anatomic	abnormalities,	such	as	a	

birth defect 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the symptoms of 

constipation in children? 

Symptoms of constipation in children 

include 

•	 fewer	bowel	movements	than	usual.

•	 postures	that	indicate	the	child	is	withholding stool, such as standing on 

tiptoes and then rocking back on the 

heels of the feet, clenching buttocks 

muscles, and other unusual dancelike 

behaviors. Parents often mistake such 

postures as attempts to “push.” 

•	 abdominal	pain	and	cramping.

•	 painful	or	difficult	bowel	movements.

•	 hard,	dry,	or	large	stools.

•	 stool	in	the	child’s	underwear.	

When should a child with 

constipation see a doctor? 

A child should see a doctor if symptoms of 

constipation last for more than 2 weeks. A 

child should see a doctor sooner if the constipation is accompanied by one or more 

symptoms that may indicate a more serious 

health problem, including 

•	 fever

•	 vomiting

•	 blood	in	the	stool	

•	 a	swollen	abdomen

•	 weight	loss	

•	 painful	cracks	in	the	skin	around	the	

anus, called anal fissures 

•	 intestine	coming	out	of	the	anus,	called	

rectal prolapse 

The doctor will ask questions about the 

child’s history of symptoms and will perform 

a physical examination. The doctor may 

perform a rectal exam by inserting a gloved 

finger into the child’s anus to check for anatomical abnormalities and for the presence 

of a fecal impaction. 

How is constipation in 

children treated? 

Constipation is treated by changing diet, 

taking laxatives, and adopting healthy 

bowel habits. Treatment depends on the 

child’s age and the severity of the problem. 

Dietary changes include eating more highfiber foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and 

vegetables. Laxatives are frequently used 

to clear a fecal impaction and sometimes to 

restore regular bowel movements. A doctor 

should be consulted before giving a laxative 

to a child. Parents should encourage their 

child to spend time on the toilet after meals 

and when their child shows signs of withholding stool. 

A child should be seen again by a doctor 

if treatment fails or if the child begins to 

show symptoms that suggest a more serious 

health problem. 

2 Constipation in Children 
3 Constipation in Children

Points to Remember

•	 Constipation is a condition in

which bowel movements occur 

less frequently than usual or 

stools tend to be hard, dry, and 

difficult and painful to pass.

•	 Children often develop constipation as a result of stool 

withholding. 

•	 A child with constipation should

see a doctor if symptoms last for 

more than 2 weeks.

•	 A child should also see a doctor

if constipation is accompanied 

by symptoms that may indicate a 

more serious health problem. 

•	 Constipation is treated by changing diet, taking laxatives, and 

adopting healthy bowel habits. 

Hope through Research

The National Institute of Diabetes and 

Digestive and Kidney Diseases conducts 

and supports basic and clinical research 

into many digestive disorders, including 

constipation in children. 

Participants in clinical trials can play a 

more active role in their own health care, 

gain access to new research treatments 

before they are widely available, and help 

others by contributing to medical research. 

For information about current studies, visit 

www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

For More Information

Other publications about constipation 

are available from the National Digestive 

Diseases Information Clearinghouse at 

www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov, including

•	 Constipation

•	 What I need to know about Constipation

•	 Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Children

•	 What I need to know about 

Hirschsprung Disease

American Academy of Pediatrics 

National Headquarters

141 Northwest Point Boulevard

Elk Grove Village, IL 60007–1098

Phone: 847–434–4000 

Fax: 847–434–8000

Email: csc@aap.org

Internet: www.aap.org

International Foundation for Functional 

Gastrointestinal Disorders 

P.O. Box 170864 

Milwaukee, WI 53217–8076

Phone: 1–888–964–2001 or 414–964–1799

Fax: 414–964–7176

Email: iffgd@iffgd.org

Internet: www.iffgd.org 

You may also find additional information about this 

topic by visiting MedlinePlus at www.medlineplus.gov.

This publication may contain information about medications. When prepared, this publication included 

the most current information available. For updates 

or for questions about any medications, contact 

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toll-free at 

1–888–INFO–FDA (463–6332) or visit www.fda.gov. 

Consult your doctor for more information.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Digestive Diseases 

Information Clearinghouse 

2 Information Way 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3570 

Phone: 1–800–891–5389 

TTY: 1–866–569–1162 

Fax: 703–738–4929 

Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov 

Internet: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov 

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a service 

of the National Institute of Diabetes and 

Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). 

The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes	of	Health	of	the	U.S.	Department	of	

Health	and	Human	Services.		Established	

in 1980, the Clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people 

with digestive disorders and to their 

families, health care professionals, and the 

public. The NDDIC answers inquiries, 

develops and distributes publications, and 

works closely with professional and patient 

organizations and Government agencies 

to coordinate resources about digestive 

diseases. 

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both 

NIDDK scientists and outside experts. 

This publication was reviewed by Carlo 

Di Lorenzo, M.D., Nationwide Children’s 

Hospital,	Columbus,	OH.

This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this fact sheet to duplicate 

and distribute as many copies as desired. 

This fact sheet is also available at 

www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

NIH	Publication	No.	09–4633 

October 2008