Question
A 6-year-old girl has recently been experiencing prolonged bowel movement times, difficulty in defecation, and the stools are in a coarse and hard state, causing her to be afraid of using the toilet. What could be the possible causes of this situation?
Answer
This situation could be a manifestation of habitual constipation, closely related to poor eating and lifestyle habits. It is recommended to cultivate defecation habits, teach the child how to exert force correctly, and once the habit is formed, the child will naturally begin to exert force once brought to the toilet and placed in an appropriate posture. In terms of dietary adjustments, it is advisable to provide bowel-soothing foods such as vegetable juice, fresh fruit juice, tomato juice, etc. For infants over 4 months old, some mashed vegetables or fruits can be given. It is essential to ensure that an adequate amount of water is consumed daily; it should not be assumed that children do not need to drink plain water just because milk contains water.