Embarrassed and teased, pupils are avoiding school loos and hanging on until they get home. Rosie Mullender looks at the health risks and asks an expert what parents can do
When your child gets home from school, you may notice they’re displaying some of the symptoms of constipation. They could be leaving large and hard poos or small, pebble-like ones in the loo. They could have a newly poor appetite or stomach pain, and they might not be going to the toilet as often as before. You could even find soiled or stained underwear in their washing basket. All of these symptoms point to the possibility of constipation, which could be caused by your child withholding their poo at school.
A new survey by Andrex, of more than 500 girls and boys aged 10 to 17, reveals that 68% have avoided going to the toilet at school, with 73% citing embarrassment as the main reason and 63% worrying about being teased. These statistics have driven Andrex to launch a campaign to help the nation raise the first unembarrassed generation that’s loud and proud about going to the loo, whether that’s at school, at home, or out and about.
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