So often, we put toddler tantrums and behavioural issues in our kids down to them being “tired” or “pushing boundaries” or “another leap”, and don’t get me wrong, all of this can certainly be true. BUT, as parents (and health professionals) however, we cannot overlook the profound impact that common childhood conditions can have on mood and behaviour.
Four of the most common childhood complaints that can significantly affect a child’s disposition, sleep and behaviour are:
- Constipation
- Worms
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Head Lice
If you’ve dealt with a constipated child (OR one with nits, worms or a urinary tract infection) you’ll understand what I mean!
Let’s start with constipation…
Childhood constipation is common, affecting between 3–30% of children worldwide. A child is mostly likely constipated if they’re not moving their bowel’s daily (no, twice a week is not OK), if they’re straining or they have pellet-like stools. Other symptoms include irritability, decreased appetite, and early satiety/ fullness (all of which disappear somewhat miraculously after a satisfying trip to the loo!).
Adults often feel irritable and agitated with constipation, and it’s not different for kids.
There are many causes of childhood constipation (i.e. poor diet/ food intolerance/ dehydration/ sedentary lifestyle/ anxiety/ medication use), which means there are range of things that can help. Monitoring stools (the kids version of the Bristol Stool Chart is awesome – see below), and improving overall gut health with whole foods is almost always the best place to start.
Then there’s worms…
Threadworms (Enterobius vermicularis), also known as pinworms, are the most common worms affecting human health in most developed countries, including Australia. As well as an itchy bottom or vaginal area, teeth grinding, nose picking, and loss of appetite; worms can mimic the symptoms of a UTI (increased urinary frequency, pain, incontinence), and affect mood.
If YOU weren’t sleeping because you were being woken up by little worms all night, you’d feel pretty irritated too right? Poor sleep, nightmares and restlessness all negatively affect mood.
And Urinary Tract Infections…
It might surprise you to learn that Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) ALSO commonly occur in children. During infancy, boys are more likely to develop UTIs. After infancy, girls are much more likely to develop them. UTIs are more common among girls because their short urethras make it easier for bacteria to move up the urinary tract. Australian hospital admission records indicate that paediatric UTIs represent 12% of all UTI hospital admissions.
There seems to be a fairly solid link between UTIs and delirium in the elderly (due to the bacteria in the urine spreading to the bloodstream and crossing the blood-brain barrier), so it makes sense the same happens for little people.
Again, if it was YOU, and you had intense pain on urination, pain or pressure in your lower back or abdomen, and a constant urge to urinate… I’d bet you’d be pretty irritated too!
Constipation, UTIs and/or worms could of course all be linked, and quite often are; so it’s best to get assessment for ALL three if the problem is ongoing.
And we can’t forget about head lice!
Head lice (nits) are annoying and common little critters that live and breed in human hair and feed by sucking blood from the scalp (nice huh?!).
Head lice can often result in increased irritability, because well, chronic itching = sleeplessness = cranky child!
Of course, there are MANY other causes of behavioural issues in children, so please reach out of you’re concerned about your child/children, and seek as much advice and support as you can.
Bottom Line
Over the past month our 3 year old has had THREE of these FOUR! So, I can tell you from not just clinical experience, but first-hand Mum experience, that changes in her behaviour, mood, attention and sleep were the MOST notable symptoms. For our little one, later nights/ less sleep, travel, fewer veggies, more sugar/packaged food, and inconsistent eating patterns were probably to blame (except for the nits, which we can fairly safely say we picked up from a caravan park we stayed at!).
If your little one is acting a little out of sorts, before you jump to conclusions and start googling “how to deal with an emotional 3 year old” or borrowing parenting books from the library, consider the possibility that there is something their body is dealing with, find out exactly what it is, and help them through it.
Until next time,
Stacey.