Abdominal Pain in Kids - Constipation

Standing at the exam table I bent down to feel her belly. She’d been having tummy pain so my routine question just rolled off my tongue. When was the last time you had a bowel movement? She looked at her daddy with a crinkled brow. He whispered: number two? Charmed I also then bent and whispered, “When did you last go number two?” Pleased -her doctor knew her code- she answered and we went on with exam. Turns out they have:

“A number one”- Check. (We all know this right?)
“A number two” - Check (See above)
“A number three”- Uh
“A number four”- Hmm
“A number five”- My own brow crinkled.

A little girl voice piped up and explained her family-speak:
“Number three” wipe – Ah of course. Front to back girls!
“Number four” wash hands- Imperative.
“Number five” dry your hands- Very nice. Follow with lotion too

Cute family. This made my day. I see this over and over in my clinic. Constipation is the number one reason for abdominal pain in kids. Check with your doctor first and see my articles on constipation in kids.

Sheila Cason, MD