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Most children get constipation from time to time. Usually it lasts just a few days. But for some children, the constipation goes on and on. And if it isn't treated properly, it can get worse.

It's hard to say what will happen if your child has ongoing constipation. (Doctors call this chronic constipation.) There haven't been many studies that have looked at this. But here's what we know so far.¹

• Constipation can be uncomfortable and stressful for your child, but usually it isn't serious.
• If your child has constipation, it doesn't mean that they will get bowel problems (such as bowel cancer) later in life.
• Your child is more likely to get better if the constipation is treated early. One study found that treatment worked better in children younger than 2 years than in those older than 2.²

How well your child recovers from constipation depends on how bad it is and how well the muscles that control passing a stool are working.

Your child is less likely to get better if they:

• Can't feel the urge to pass a stool
• Have a medical condition that's causing the constipation.
• Tense the muscles around the anus when trying to pass a stool (your child may not realize that they're tensing the muscles).

If your child's bowels become completely blocked with large, hard stools (called impacted feces), your doctor will often prescribe a type of laxative called polyethylene glycol (one brand name is MiraLax).

Your doctor might use other types of medication, or give you medication to place in your child's rectum (a suppository). This may clear their bowel.

As a last resort, your child may need hospital treatment, but this is rare nowadays. In hospital, your child might need their bowel cleared with an enema (a liquid medication that's put into your child's rectum through a tube). Your child will usually be given a sedative before this is done. If your child's constipation is very bad, their doctor may give them a general anesthetic and then remove the hard, packed stools.² But nowadays doctors don't often use these procedures.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.