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Constipation generally occurs when, for whatever the reason, your child does not have a bowel movement often enough. Then, when they do a poo it can hurt because the stools have become hard and dry. However, there are also some children who appear to be doing a poo every day, but because they are not emptying their bowel properly and only passing small amounts of stool these children can also be suffering from constipation.
Definition of constipation (no soiling):
• Infrequent passing of stools (less than 3 times per week)
• Excessive straining
• Excessive stool hardness
• Pain on passing stools
Definition of faecal impaction (with soiling)
When there is no adequate bowel movement for several days or weeks, a large, compacted mass of faeces builds up in the rectum and/or colon which cannot be easily passed by the child
Symptoms include failing to pass a stool for several days followed by a large, often painful or distressing bowel motion
Between bowel movements, children with faecal impaction often soil their underclothes
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