Avoiding Constipation In Children

(NAPSI)-Children become constipated for many reasons, and though rarely serious, constipation can cause discomfort or pain. It can also cause frustration for parents if they don't know how to help their child find relief.

What You Should Know

Children often get constipation from a low-fiber diet or from withholding stool because they don't want to stop playing, don't want to use a public bathroom or are afraid of having a painful bowel movement. Some signs of constipation are:

• fewer bowel movements than usual

• hard, dry or large stools

• painful or difficult bowel movements

• abdominal pain and cramping

• stool in the underwear

What to Do

Constipation is often helped by:

• eating high-fiber foods

• having healthy bowel habits

• taking laxatives--but only with a doctor's approval

If constipation lasts longer than two weeks or is accompanied by symptoms such as bloody stools, vomiting, fever, a swollen abdomen or weight loss, see a doctor. Constipation is usually harmless, but it can be a sign of a more serious health problem.

For More Information

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse has produced a fact sheet titled Constipation in Children. The publication is available at www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/constipationchild.

Constipation, though rarely serious, can be a problematic condition for children and parents. You can also find a $1 off coupon for Miralax, a constipation relief medicine.

Having Trouble Staying Regular? New Medication May Offer Relief

(NAPSA)—Constipation may not be a topic that comes up in casual conversation. But if it did, you might be surprised to find out how many people are affected by this common and often frustrating gastrointestinal condition. Constipation affects more than 30 million Americans and is the cause of 2.5 million visits to physicians and 92,000 hospitalizations annually.

More than a mere inconvenience, constipation causes many people to experience abdominal pain and discomfort and has the potential to negatively impact quality of life, especially when symptoms recur frequently and the condition becomes chronic.

“Traditionally, treatments for constipation have included increasing fiber intake, drinking enough water and using laxatives or stool softeners,” said John Johanson, M.D., clinical associate professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. “However, many patients are unsatisfied with these treatments because they may lose effectiveness with time and in some cases may even make the problem worse, or may produce unwanted side effects such as increased bloating or gas.”

Today, there is a new option for the millions of patients living with chronic idiopathic constipation. AMITIZA™ (lubiprostone), recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a new medication shown to provide effective and predictable relief for adults who suffer from chronic idiopathic constipation.

When there is not enough fluid in the intestine, stools can become very hard, making it difficult for people to pass a bowel movement —this is when constipation occurs. AMITIZA works by increasing fluid secretion, easing the passage of the stool and improving symptoms associated with chronic idiopathic constipation.

“The availability of AMITIZA is exciting news for the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic idiopathic constipation and deal with its daily consequences,” said Dr. Johanson.

For more information about chronic constipation and the treatments available in addition to diet and exercise, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider.