Paediatricians advocate drinking 3 litres of water to prevent constipation

Dr Olatayo Olayemi, Senior Registrar, Paediatrics, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has said that intake of three litres of water daily by children can tackle constipation.

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Olayemi made the disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday in Ibadan, that constipation in children had a strong co-relation with diet.

He urged parents to increase their children’s daily water and fruit consumption to reduce the risk of constipation.

“Constipation can occur when a baby is being fed with both breast milk and formula, especially from formula.

“This can be increased when the formula is not mixed with the appropriate volume of water, then, the food becomes thicker than it should be.

“For children who are older, it occurs when they overfeed and don’t take enough water, this can make them have abdominal pains and bloated tommy,” he said.

Olayemi also said that a severe constipated case should be handled in a hospital.

Also, a Consultant Paediatrician at UCH, Dr Joyce Akinseinde, said that improved water, fruits and vegetable intake would address constipation.

She also recommended regular exercise and development of a routine for defecation.

“For example, sitting in the toilet for about 10 minutes on waking up and use of laxatives are helpful,” she said.

She listed causes of constipation to include too little water intake, lack of fibre in diet, change in diet especially during transition from liquid to solid or cereal in infancy, and eating lots of processed foods.

She mentioned the other causes to include ignoring urge for defecation.