Can a child get Colon Hydrotherapy?
Why, YES! I'm glad you asked. We have been seeing children as young as 3 years old over 20 years with Great success!
A Parent or legal guardian Must be present for anyone under 18.
Why would we see a child? When a child becomes constipated, it can get worse over time to the point of having Encopresis.
What is Encopresis?
A condition where a child repeatedly passes stool into their underwear or clothing, despite being toilet trained. It is a type of fecal incontinence that typically occurs in children over the age of 4.
Causes:
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Constipation: The most common cause of encopresis is chronic constipation, which leads to a buildup of hard, dry stool in the rectum.
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Fear of using the toilet: Some children may avoid using the toilet due to pain, fear, or embarrassment or not being allowed to go when at school.
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Emotional stress: Stress can lead to changes in bowel habits, including constipation, holding onto stool and encopresis.
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Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as anal fissures or gastrointestinal disorders, can contribute to encopresis.
Symptoms:
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Soiling of underwear or clothing
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Constipation
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Abdominal pain or bloating
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Hard, dry stools
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May not be aware of the need to have a bowel movement.
Diagnosis:
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Physical exam: The doctor will examine the child's abdomen and rectum to check for signs of constipation or other medical conditions.
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Stool sample: A stool sample may be collected to check for parasites or other infections.
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Medical history: The doctor will ask about the child's bowel habits, diet, and any recent stressful events.
Treatment:
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Bowel habit modification: The focus of treatment is typically on improving bowel habits. This may include increasing fiber intake, drinking plenty of fluids, and establishing a regular toilet schedule.
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Laxatives: Laxatives may be used to soften the stool and make it easier to pass.
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Colon Cleansing: In severe cases, Colon Hydrotherapy may be used to clear out the impacted stool.
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Counseling: If encopresis is related to emotional factors, counseling may be helpful.
When children hold in their poop, the lower colon fills up. Over time this can stretch the lower colon out of its normal shape. The more a child holds in poop, the more the colon stretches, and the poop gets larger and harder. This makes pooping even more painful. When this happens over and over again, the colon becomes so stretched and floppy that the muscles children use to help push out poop do not work well. Hard poop can get stuck and only liquid can pass around the hard poop. The stretched nerves become less sensitive and the child does not feel the leaking poop. This is also true in many adults!
Children who have emotional or behavioral issues can have trouble with soiling. There are more serious medical problems that children are born with that can cause encopresis, but these are rare.
