Does constipation cause fever?
Constipation does not cause fever, but fever can lead to constipation.
First, let’s think about constipation. Symptoms of constipation in children are varied, but most often include having fewer than 3 bowel movements per week, hard stools that are difficult to pass or feeling belly fullness. Sometimes, even diarrhea can be a symptom of constipation in children.
Secondly, fever is defined as a body temperature that is at or above 100.4° F. Fevers happen anytime a person’s immune system causes our body temperature to increase in response to an invading germ.
But what if your child’s constipation is paired with a fever?
Here’s what you need to know about the connection between the two.
Is it possible for constipation and fever to be related?
Constipation itself does not cause a fever, but the two symptoms can go hand in hand.
Most often, fever is a response to your child’s body fighting off an invading virus or bacteria. Occasionally, persistent fever may be due to an immune system dysfunction. Constipation does not cause fever. Often, these two symptoms will coincide with the same child because they are both common childhood conditions.
We have a saying in medicine, two things can be true, but be unrelated. This is the case with these two common childhood conditions.
A fever may not be caused by constipation, but a fever could lead to a constipated child. When children are sick and have a fever, they often drink less fluids than normal. Decreased fluid intake causes stool to not move as well through the digestive system. Often, children eat less when they are feeling sick as well. Less input often leads to less output.
Should I worry when my child has a constipation and fever?
In a fully vaccinated child over the age of 3 months, there are very few reasons to worry about a short lived fever in a child. If your child is not fully vaccinated, it is worth mentioning a couple of days of fever to your pediatrician.
Fever itself is not dangerous and can actually be helpful to help your child’s body to fight off an infection. Constipation itself is not worrisome, but can lead to a miserable child.
While fever and constipation themselves alone aren’t worrisome, the combination of the two together can lead to much parental anxiety.
How can I treat my child’s constipation and fever at home?
Treating both fever and constipation have some things in common.
When your child has either or both conditions, he or she should drink lots of fluids. Encourage your child to drink small sips of fluids frequently or set a goal to drink so many ounces per hour. When your goal is to get your child to drink, the healthy dietary rules can get thrown out the window temporarily. Often a child will refuse to drink plain water if they are not feeling well, but you might be able to get them to take pedialyte, juice or even popsicles. Keeping up with hydration is most important, even if it means increasing their sugar intake temporarily.
Drinking plenty of fluids will also ease a child’s symptoms of constipation. When more fluids are present, the colon can bring more water into the stool and thus make it easier to pass.
Secondly, treating your child’s fever with fever reducing medications can help ease their symptoms of fever as well as constipation. While a fever is not dangerous, it often causes a child to be miserable and not want to be active. Treating the fever with medication will help your child to feel better in the short run which will allow them to be active. Activity helps the digestive system to work well.
When should I see my child’s pediatrician for constipation or fever?
Most often, you can treat both constipation and fever at home. However, there are certain symptoms that worry pediatricians and are worth calling for.
Symptoms that should be taken more seriously include:
- Constipation that lasts longer than two weeks
- Fever that lasts more than 3-4 days
- Refusal to eat for more than a few days
- Weight loss
- Abdominal swelling or extreme pain
- Blood in the stool or black stool
How can an at-home pediatrician help with your child’s constipation and fever?
Drs. Wadley is a board certified pediatrician that offers convenient, evidence based pediatric care to kids and their families in and around Colleyville, TX. Our practice is limited in size and all house calls so we get to know your kids. You have our cell phone numbers so you never need to sit on hold or worry that no one will call you back.
So, if you are tired of phone trees, waiting rooms and never getting timely answers to your questions, give us a call today. We are accepting new patients in Colleyville.
© 127 Pediatrics; August 2022
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice.
Dr. Andrea Wadley is the owner, pediatrician, and breastfeeding medicine specialist for 127 Pediatrics. She has an established house-calls-only concierge pediatric practice in Colleyville, TX. She is also the owner and operator of the 127 Pediatrics Online Breastfeeding Medicine and Education Center.
