Treatment of Chronic Constipation in Children

If your child has not had a bowel movement for quite some time, medications are often needed to help empty the rectum. Most children can be managed with medications given by mouth (reviewed at the end of this tool), but some need suppositories or enemas which are put directly into the rectum. Which medications are recommended will depend on your child's age, how long your child has been constipated, and how much stool has built up in the rectum. In rare cases, children need to be admitted to the hospital to have this done.

Your doctor will help you figure out the best way to empty your child's rectum.

The next step: preventing stool build-up