Constipation is a common phenomenon in children and can be very concerning to parents. It is the reason for over 3% of general pediatric visits and 30% of pediatric gastroenterologist visits. The consistency of stools, not the frequency, determines the diagnosis of constipation. Infants routinely have more than one stool daily. For older children, soft stools every 2 to 3 days can be normal; however, a hard stool with difficulty every 3 days is considered constipation.

The etiology of constipation can be either functional (nonorganic) or organic. When an anatomical abnormality or underlying disease process is not suspected, behavior and diet modifications are often used. Over-the-counter medications are also often tried by families. Oral mineral oil is one laxative that has been used to relieve constipation. However, mineral oil should be avoided due to the rare, but reported, complication of lipoid pneumonia.