Laxative for children

Modern pharmacology has hundreds of options for dealing with health problems, in particular laxatives there are a great many. But what kind of laxative can be, without fear of giving the children, we now try to figure it out.

Classification of laxatives

All laxatives for children can be classified as follows:

1. Means that cause chemical irritation of the receptors of the mucous membrane of the large intestine. Thanks to these preparations, the speed of the bowel contents increases, and after a few hours complete emptying begins. Such agents include castor oil, rhubarb root, buckthorn bark, hay leaf, kafiol plant preparation and bisakodil. Many drugs in this group are not recommended for use by children up to a certain age, so parents should carefully read the instructions.
2. Preparations possessing osmotic properties, that is, which are capable of retaining water in the lumen of the intestine, which leads to an increase in volume and softening of the contents. To such preparations carry: дюфалак, лактолуза / normase, sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate. Many pediatricians refer these medicines to mild laxatives, which are absolutely safe for children.
3. Volumetric weakeners or fillers, which when swallowed, swell and increase the fluid content in the intestine, which leads to peristalsis and rapid emptying. These agents include agar-agar, sea kale, bran, methylcellulose. The resources of this group are very limited in pediatrics, and are not practically prescribed as a laxative for young children.
4. Laxatives that promote softening of stool and stimulating their slipping. Means that act in the small intestine: vegetable and petroleum jelly. Means that act in the colon: bisacodyl, guttalax. Means that act throughout the intestines: castor oil, salt laxatives. Such medicines are widely used by pediatricians to treat constipation in children.

What should I consider when choosing a laxative for children?

For children of the first year of life, it is best to use laxative suppositories with glycerin or microclysters. Laxative tea for children based on fennel also has a laxative effect. As an absolutely safe laxative for infants, it is possible to use drugs containing lactose.

For children older than a year, you can give a laxative in drops or syrup, but here you need to consider several important points. The laxative should not have an unpleasant taste and smell, and, in addition, do not cause pain in children (nausea, pain in the abdomen). For this reason, laxatives that stimulate bowel function are not recommended. Vegetative laxative on the basis of oils for children should be used with caution, because the oils interfere with the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, which can lead to avitaminosis.

Laxative folk remedies for children

Very often, constipation is associated with the lifestyle and style of family nutrition. In this case, it is necessary to introduce into the diet of the child products that favorably affect the functions of the intestine. Laxative products for children include carrots, cabbage, beets, pumpkin (or pumpkin porridge with millet), zucchini, figs, dried apricots, prunes (a better decoction of prunes), plums. It is good to strew bran and add them to ready meals, and you can also give the baby an infusion of flax seed on an empty stomach in the morning. It is necessary to include in the diet natural juices and jelly, and also to eat bread with bran.

As a natural laxative for children, you can prepare carrot juice, which should be given to a child 2 times a day for 1-2 teaspoons. It is useful to prepare salads from boiled beets with prunes, seasoned with sour cream or vegetable oil. In conclusion, I want to add that in case of prolonged constipation, you should consult a doctor. Perhaps constipation is just a symptom of some disease of the gastrointestinal tract.