Close Up March 18

HEALTH
ONE STOP DOCTORS
Introducing
Dr Anthony Cohn,
Consultant Paediatrician at One Stop Doctors, with special interest
in constipation (stool-withholding), bed-wetting, daytime wetting and
soiling, and non-specific behavioural problems in children.
Our One Stop Doctors private Clinic in Hertfordshire has a team of specialist
Paediatricians and child health experts. To book an appointment or find
a specialist please call 01442 331 900 or visit onestopdoctors.co.uk.
Dr Cohn, provides insights into constipation a common childhood
condition, including its symptoms and treatment.
Constipation affects 30% of children, primarily toddlers. It is the
inability to have regular bowel movements, with stools often being
dry, hard, difficult to pass and varying in size. Understanding
how painful and distressing this can be for a child is important
in understanding the impact constipation can have on a family.
The longer a child withholds from going to the toilet, the more
uncomfortable he becomes with increased griping abdominal pain,
making it difficult for a child to focus and concentrate, very often
impacting on behaviour.
Dr Cohn says, “constipation can start at any age. What happens is
at some point going to the loo becomes painful, uncomfortable and
scary for a child and in-order-to escape this experience they will start
holding on. As they hold on, the bigger, harder and scarier the problem
becomes. When they finally have a movement and it hurts, this makes
them want to hold on even more, thus creating a vicious cycle.”
“We see two effects in children who are constipated, the first is a
conscious fear of going to the toilet, but beyond that there is a subconscious
habit of ‘holding on’ even if the child doesn’t want to.
What we are effectively describing is a battle between the bowel,
bottom and brain. Parents who are concerned can feel at ease
knowing that there is usually no long-term physical damage for
children with this condition.”
“Sometimes, as a parent you may not recognise the signs, particularly
if your child has regular soiling, which can lead you to think the child
is desperate for the toilet, rather than withholding. Since, withholding
is often an ingrained habit that must be overcome, treatment needs to
be tailored to meet the needs of the individual child. Therefore, parents
with concerns should always consult their doctor for advice and a
long-term
treatment
plan.”
“The objective
of any
treatment
plan is
to make
regular bowel
movement
as easy and
comfortable
as possible for
your child.”
Encouraging your child to drink plenty of fluids – including water -
will help to keep them regular
The way to achieve this is a combination of:
• Diet – fluid and fibre
• Laxatives – only if prescribed by a doctor who will advise the
right dose for your child
It’s important to remember that treatment needs to be continued
until they have ‘kicked the habit’ – sticking to the right treatment as
prescribed by your doctor often sees a successful outcome.
Now Available
Statistics show that around 1 in every 100 people in the UK are
affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with more boys
being diagnosed with the condition than girls.
The One Stop Doctors team of neuro-developmental specialists
are now offering a range of assessments with fixed prices for
patients between 2 -18 years of age.
Although, there is no “cure” for ASD, often families may need
the support of a consultant and/or therapists to help reduce
and manage some of the behaviours that present themselves
in a child with ASD, such as sleep difficulties, eating difficulties,
ADHD and anxiety.
Price £1350
More information can be found online onestopdoctors.co.uk/
services/paediatrics/autism
@onestopdoctors