According to NICE guidelines, many parents don’t recognise the signs and symptoms of constipation and few relate the presence of soiling to constipation.The problem affects up to 30 per cent of children and it becomes chronic in more than one in three cases. Some 35 children and young people are admitted to hospital every day in the UK suffering symptoms of constipation such as severe abdominal pain.Early intervention for constipation is crucial as the earlier the signs and symptoms are recognised the easier it is to resolve the problem. The effects of unrecognised or inadequately treated constipation in children can include significant abdominal pain, fecal incontinence, appetite suppression and low self-esteem. The long-term impact for the whole family can include social isolation, disruption to family life and feelings of frustration and despair.
The ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) campaign, "Let’s Talk About Poo" aims to encourage an open dialogue between parents and children about toileting. Eileen Jacques, ERIC’s Hub Manager, says: "Many parents are simply unaware of the symptoms of constipation, such as soiling, and often think their child is being lazy. We’ve launched this campaign to help parents understand how to recognise constipation in their child and seek early intervention. Raising awareness will also help overcome the stigma surrounding this difficult and frustrating problem. Because it isn’t generally talked about, many parents just aren’t fully aware of what’s ‘normal’, and so it is very hard for them to spot the early signs."
ERIC's website has useful resources and leaflets you can download.
