{"id":396237,"date":"2025-09-04T03:41:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T03:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/396237\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T03:41:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T03:41:14","slug":"constipated-children-being-failed-by-lack-of-services-say-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/396237\/","title":{"rendered":"Constipated children being failed by lack of services, say parents"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BBCBBC<\/p>\n

Elissa says constipation needs to be screened for in every area of healthcare <\/p>\n

A mother who feared her two-year-old son’s untreated constipation could have killed him is calling for access to children’s continence services to be made a national priority. <\/p>\n

Elissa Novak said Ivan was constantly vomiting, losing weight and in severe pain when it was at its worst, and a doctor said 2kg of his 10kg (22lb) body weight was estimated to be stool.<\/p>\n

The number of children aged up to 16 admitted to English hospitals suffering with constipation, among other symptoms, is at a 10-year high, with more than 44,000 admissions in 2023-24, according to NHS figures.<\/p>\n

Children are being failed by the absence of dedicated bladder and bowel services in some parts of the country, an expert said.<\/p>\n

About 1.5 million children in the UK suffer with constipation, according to the charity Bladder and Bowel UK.<\/p>\n

As many children returned to school this week, charities have told the BBC they are seeing a spike in calls to their helplines.<\/p>\n

“It’s a huge problem and many healthcare professionals don’t consider it a serious issue in children,” said Davina Richardson, a children’s specialist nurse with the charity.<\/p>\n

“Discussing wee and poo is very un-British. It’s not something that we as a culture do.”<\/p>\n

Elissa said Ivan, who is now aged five, had been “completely robbed of his toddler years” due to health issues resulting from constipation.<\/p>\n

He was admitted to hospital 25 times in one six-month period in 2022 for emergency treatment.<\/p>\n

“It was horrific,” Elissa said. “He was so frail he couldn’t lift himself up or do anything.<\/p>\n

“He was in pain all the time and either screaming or just lying there because he was too weak.”<\/p>\n

\"ElissaElissa Novak<\/p>\n

Ivan became severely underweight as a result of constipation<\/p>\n

Elissa, 35, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said she had constantly gone to her GP to try to get help and answers.<\/p>\n

At that time in Warwickshire, there was no bowel or bladder community service, which meant they were going to A&E up to four times a week.<\/p>\n

It was only when things got to a crisis point that Elissa was told constipation was causing Ivan’s pain. <\/p>\n

She thinks he would have died had there been any further delay in treating it.<\/p>\n

Elissa was told Ivan’s entire colon was impacted, which had pushed up into his lung cavity and compromised his lungs. <\/p>\n

‘Signs missed’<\/p>\n

“<\/b>His stomach was squashed. All of his organs were being pushed out of the way,” Elissa said. <\/p>\n

“We were in A&E for up to 12 hours at a time… just waiting for an enema of all things.<\/p>\n

“It was a very horrible time. It was so traumatic for everybody.”<\/p>\n

Ivan has two genetic syndromes which affect his cognitive functions.<\/p>\n

Elissa thinks this played a part in the signs being missed and constipation not being diagnosed sooner.<\/p>\n

“It was seen as ‘that’s just what disabled children are like’. We did actually have one consultant who said ‘disabled children just scream’,” Elissa said.<\/p>\n

“It wasn’t looked into properly, it wasn’t taken seriously until he was really at crisis point. His signs of pain weren’t recognised. It was just a perfect storm really.”<\/p>\n

\"ElissaElissa Novak<\/p>\n

Ivan’s stomach became extremely swollen due to impacted stools<\/p>\n

Ivan now has a care package so his constipation can be managed at home with laxatives and daily bowel wash outs.<\/p>\n

“It is a huge part of his life and a huge part of his day. He still suffers pain but it’s so much better,” his mother said.<\/p>\n

Elissa is campaigning for better bladder and bowel care services across the country.<\/p>\n

“People are falling through the cracks,” she said.<\/p>\n

\"Ivan<\/p>\n

Ivan has laxatives and daily bowel irrigations to manage his constipation<\/p>\n

Tips for parents and carers<\/p>\n

Here are some of the ways to prevent a child from becoming constipated:<\/p>\n