Assessment and Care of a Pediatric Client with ConstipationHinds Community College, Nursing Allied Health CenterAssessment and Care of a Pediatric Client with ConstipationConstipation is a topic that Many people might feel uncomfortable talking around, but this abnormality could have unwanted side effects. Brunner and Suddarth define constipation as “an abnormal paucity or irregularity of defecation, an abnormal hardening of the stool that makes it difficult and sometimes painful to pass, a decrease in the volume of stool, or retention of stool in the rectum for a prolonged period of time.” , often with a feeling of defecation. incomplete evacuation after defecation” (Smeltzer, Bare, Hinkle, & Cheever, 2010, 1068). Parents generally do not consider the importance of monitoring their children's bowel habits unless the child is very young and still in diapers. Because of the complications and discomfort associated with constipation, it is important that the nurse not only educate the parents about the signs and symptoms of constipation, but also attempt to involve the child in the management or reversal of constipation. Overall, zero point three to twenty-eight percent of children experience constipation (Rogers, 2012, p. 47). Due to cases of encopresis, a child's condition is often worsened compared to constipation in adults. It is common to have hard, painful stools in cases of constipation, and this pain is accompanied by a noted correlation between stools and pain in a child's mind (Rogers, 2012, p. 46) . Early detection and proper diagnosis by a healthcare professional is the key to reversing acute constipation before chronic constipation develops (Rogers, 2012, p. 47).T...... middle of article ..... .assment or fear. Managing constipation is also crucial to preventing chronic constipation. Parents must be well informed of the importance of monitoring. Early reversal of constipation is the best and most desirable way to avoid chronic constipation disorder. Open communication between parent and child is the best initial defense. ReferencesGreenwald, BJ (2010). Clinical practice guidelines for pediatric constipation. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 22(7), 332-338. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7599.2010.00517.xRogers, J. (2012). Assessment, prevention and treatment of constipation in children. Nursing Standard, 26(29), 46-52. Smeltzer, SC, Bare, BG, Hinkle, JL, & Cheever, KH (2010). Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing (12th ed.). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.