Bowel > Bowel Problems > Childhood Bowel Problems

Childhood Bowel Problems

B&BF provides support for adults over 18 years of age, however we recognise that some of our visitors may be searching for information relating to childhood continence issues. In this section you will find some basic information on children's problems and we recommend you contact ERIC (the UK's children's continence charity) for more help and support.

Soiling

Soiling is when children empty their bowels in other places apart from the toilet, such as their underwear or other inappropriate places.

In younger children this is often explained by the fact that they are still learning how to recognise that they need to go to the toilet. However, this problem can become a more regular occurrence in some children.

Soiling affects 1 in 30 children between the ages of 4 and 5 and 1 in 100 children aged 10 or above. This is often very hard to deal with and can lead to the onset of bullying and teasing.

What causes this problem?

There are a number of different reasons why a child can have soiling issues. These include:

Constipation
Avoiding going to the toilet
Fear of going to the toilet
No firm toilet routine
Too little fibre in diet
Low fluid intake
Emotional upset

If you child is experiencing these problems, visit your GP who will be able to assess the situation and may also put you in touch with your local continence service. This assessment may indicate the need for medication to clear the bowel before starting a routine of regular toileting.

Tests for childhood bowel problems if the problem continues

There are certain tests that may be carried out to assess why your child is experiencing bowel problems although these are not always necessary. These include:

Abdominal x ray - the x ray machine is positioned over the tummy. In some cases, a child is given a special substance to swallow a few hours before the test. This allows the doctor to see the outline of the intestines and bowel.
Transit studies - this involves your child swallowing some liquid containing small beads that will show up on an x ray. Once the beads have been swallowed, x rays will be taken over a period of a few days,. The doctor will then count the beads as they appear on the x ray. This helps the doctor to assess how long it takes the stools to pass through the bowel.

There are further tests which are occasionally conducted to identify bowel problems in children who experience persistent constipation. These include:

Barium enema x ray
Rectal biopsy
Anorectal balloon manometry
Endoscopy

Keeping a regular habit and maintaining a healthy bowel

The following tips may help a child to become more regular at opening their bowels and maintain a healthy bowel.

Eat regular meals with lots of fruit and vegetables
Drink up to 6 - 8 glasses of water based fluid a day
Exercise regularly
Regular toilet routine

Further Information

For more detailed information and support about childhood continence issues contact ERIC - Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence. ERIC is the national charity that provides information and support for children and young people under 18 years of age with continence issues and their families.

ERIC helpline - 0845 370 8008 - Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm

Website - www.eric.org.uk and www.trusteric.org (for young people) Email: info@eric.org.uk