Sometimes constipation is caused by medicines or a disease. Symptoms of constipation include No bowel movement for several days or daily bowel movements that are hard and dry. Cramping abdominal pain. Constipation can make a bowel movement painful, so the child may try to prevent having one. Clenching buttocks, rocking up and down on toes, and turning red in the face are signs of trying to hold in a bowel movement.
Treatment depends on the child's age and the severity of the problem.
Sometimes a child may need an enema to remove the stool or a laxative to soften it or prevent a future episode. However, laxatives can be dangerous to children and should be given only with a doctor's approval. Although constipation is usually harmless, it can be a sign or cause of a more serious problem. A child should see a doctor if Episodes of constipation last longer than 3 weeks. The child is unable to participate in normal activities.