WARNING SIGNS
A doctor must be seen in any of the following circumstances
- For adults with constipation, physician’s advice has to be sought if
- When there is a difficulty in passing stools (especially hard stools).
- If there is bleeding through anus.
- If there is pain associated with passing stools.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- If there is gross reduction in number of normal bowel movements and failure even to pass gas.
- If there is a sudden change in the usual bowel habits, i.e. sudden onset of constipation or constipation alternating with diarrhea.
- If vomiting and abdominal distension also start along with constipation.
- For children with constipation, physician’s advice has to be sought if
- Passing stools gets painful or is accompanied by passage of blood.
- Constipation of a longer duration (longer than 3 weeks).
- Constipation causing a poor growth (due to poor appetite) in a child.
- Child suffers repeated urinary infections (due to full bowel).
- Child is lethargic and unable to participate in normal activities.
- Inability to push stools out after optimum efforts.