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Is It Safe To Give Enema For Hard Stools In Children?

Posted on Tue, 9 Jun 2015

Question: My 14 month old grandson is having difficulty having a bowel movement. It is right there but the stoools seem to be too hard to pass. They are giving him water and will give him prune juice. They have tried bicycling his legs but this is making him very unhappy. He has a fever with a cold. Could a light enema be used?

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can use for this time,but do not make it a habit...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I am sorry for the constipation problems your grandson is having.

Yes, you can give a small enema (they are prepared for young children) to help him empty his bowels. However, do not make it a habit.

It is better to make him pass the motion on his own (naturally) and not with such external help. For this time, you can use it.

Having fever with a cold might have made him loss his appetite, and thus, he has become constipated. Try to give more liquid foods to him (soups or juice) to help bowels keep moving.

All the best!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (21 minutes later)

can an enema be prepared at home with just warm water and perhaps a little soap? They live on a small island where a pharmacy is probably not open now.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Can wait until pharmacy is open

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

To my opinion, they should wait until pharmacy will open. His case is not emergency. It is better to use an enema purchased in pharmacy than prepared from soap.

With regards to home prepared enema, I prefer mixing 2 tablespoons of olive oil with one and half litres of lukewarm water.

All the best!
Dr.Albana

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar