Dr Bernadette Carr answers your questions on constipation and kidney infections

Q. My nine-year-old son suffers from constipation. He eats Weetabix every morning with freshly-milled linseeds and has an apple every day.

Is there anything else I can do other than use medication?

A. Constipation can be a very common issue in children, they may pass stools very infrequently or pass very hard stools.

Straining when trying to pass a stool or stomach pain may be associated with constipation and can nausea and loss of appetite.

What is normal can be different for every child, but if there is a change in the normal pattern this is usually a guide that constipation might be an issue.

Constipation can happen occasionally or in some children it may go on for several months if not treated.

Diet has a big role to play in ensuring normal bowel movements.

There are a number of natural methods that can be tried .

High fibre foods are very good in helping to combat constipation, these include fruit such as apples and oranges, vegetables, wholewheat cereals, and porridge.

Brown rice and pasta as well as potatoes are also high in fibre and will help with regular bowel movements, and switching to wholewheat versions of breads and wraps can be helpful ways to increase the fibre intake in your son’s diet.

Staying hydrated is a big factor in preventing constipation. Plain water is important for hydration and will aid in the prevention of constipation and is safe for teeth.

Orange juice and prune juice can also be very helpful in the treatment of constipation, however these may often have a high sugar content, especially if made from juice concentrate.

In some cases, constipation is caused by kids not having a bowel motion when they have the urge to go.

This may happen at school or other social settings if there is difficulty in accessing the toilet quickly. In this case it is important to encourage kids to go to the toilet if they feel the need and avoid “holding in”.

Taking adequate time on the toilet can also be an issue for kids.

Encouraging them to spend enough time on the toilet to pass a bowel motion may also be necessary.

Q. My seven-year-old daughter is prone to kidney infections which often need a course of antibiotics to clear up.

She finds them quite distressing. Is there anything I can do to prevent re-occurrence?

A. Kidney infections are more common in girls than boys due to differences in anatomy.

Girls have a shorter urethra which makes it easier for infection to pass up into the bladder and kidneys.

Kidney infections may cause abdominal pain and temperatures as well as an uncomfortable urge to pass urine accompanied with a burning sensation.

In addition to treatment by your GP, there are some methods which can be tried to reduce the likelihood of recurring infection.

First it is important to emphasise hygiene to your daughter.

Wiping front to back is important to avoid bacteria being introduced from the back passage to the front.

Keeping well hydrated with adequate amounts of water throughout the day may also be helpful.

It is also important that your daughter voids fully when she goes to pass urine. Some children will go to the toilet and not fully empty their bladder, which may increase the likelihood of infection.

Constipation may also cause the bladder not to empty completely because stool from the bowel collects and presses on the bladder.

Making sure your daughter has a regular soft bowel motion can also help to reduce the frequency of kidney infections occurring.

In some cases, changes to the structure of the kidneys and tubes that connect them to the bladder can be the cause of frequent infections.

Sometimes, urine will leak back up towards the kidneys from the bladder which can cause infection. If this occurs for a long time, the kidneys may experience scarring.

Your GP will advise if further tests are necessary if there are very frequent or severe infections to examine the structure and function of the kidneys and bladder.