Question
A three-year-old child who had undergone a giant colon resection and received six months and a half months of dilatation treatment has been doing well until recently. However, over the past two months, the child has been experiencing difficulty in defecation, with each bowel movement producing small amounts of stool and seemingly not fully emptied. What might be the causes of the child’s constipation?
Answer
Difficulty in defecation in a three-year-old child following a giant colon surgery may be related to infantile constipation. Infantile constipation is a common condition with various causes, generally categorized into two types: functional constipation and constipation caused by congenital intestinal malformations. Most constipated infants fall under functional constipation, which can be managed through dietary adjustments and oral probiotics to regulate intestinal flora. In terms of diet, it is important to reduce the addition of complementary foods and use external medications like Kaiseyushu to aid defecation during difficulty. If constipation persists or worsens, it is advisable to seek further diagnosis and treatment from a professional doctor.