Constipation is uncomfortable, frustrating, and VERY common—but can it actually cause a fever? The short answer is: not usually. Constipation on its own does not typically cause a rise in body temperature. Fever, to medical professionals, is defined as a temperature ABOVE 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius (the person in the photo above does not have a fever). However, there are a few important exceptions where the two symptoms may be connected—and recognizing when it’s more than “just constipation” could be critical. If you are having a high fever and abdominal pain, please stop reading now and go to the emergency room.
Constipation means infrequent, hard, or difficult-to-pass bowel movements. It can cause bloating, cramping, and even nausea—but not fever. A fever usually means the body is fighting an infection or inflammation, which is not a typical feature of simple constipation.
If you or your child has constipation and a fever, it may signal something more serious:
Fecal Impaction
A severe buildup of stool can sometimes block your bowels. If this leads to inflammation or tissue damage, it may trigger a low-grade fever. Signs include severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and a distended belly. This might be due to not pooping for more than several days (not usually just one day). This is a medical emergency, and you will need to go to the emergency room for the stool buildup to be removed.
Bowel Obstruction
A small bowel obstruction or large bowel obstruction is caused by something blocking stool from passing through– when it’s small bowel, the obstruction can be caused by scar tissue (adhesions) from a previous surgery or infection. A large bowel obstruction tends to be caused by a mass or tumor, although there are a variety of other things that can cause blockage. Bowel obstructions can cause a fever due to the body fighting the inflammation or infection. Usually a CT scan or colonoscopy is needed to diagnose this… so go to the ER.
Appendicitis or Diverticulitis
These conditions can sometimes mimic constipation in early stages. You might even have temporary constipation when you have a very inflamed appendix (appendicitis) or inflamed colon/diverticulum (diverticulitis). Both cause abdominal pain and fever because they involve infection and inflammation. Prompt diagnosis is essential, and treatment is with bowel rest, antibiotics, and often surgery for appendicitis… so go to the ER.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
In children, not pooping and not peeing may go hand in hand, either due to uncoordinated muscles, fear of pain, need for control– whatever have you, in children– but holding pee in can increase the risk of a UTI, which can cause fever. With a UTI, your kid may have trouble pooping and peeing (you can’t hold one in without holding in the other) and they may have some abdominal pain and bloating. Please see your pediatrician or take your kid to urgent care.
Infections in Children
Kids often experience multiple symptoms at once. Constipation might coincide with a viral illness that causes fever, but the two may be unrelated. More importantly, when kids are sick, they might not want to eat or drink, which can lead to dehydration and constipation. So, please keep your kids hydrated with whatever they ask for, such as Pedialyte, popsicles, chicken soup, apple juice, or watermelon, and make sure they’re producing urine and pooping (or wet and poopy diapers). If they are not peeing or pooping, they need to see a healthcare provider.
If constipation is persistent, causes vomiting, or is accompanied by fever, severe pain, or blood in stool, seek medical evaluation.
For run of the mill constipation, drink plenty of water, increase dietary fiber, and consider stool softeners or laxatives as advised by your provider. If the abdominal pain is severe, please do not continue taking fiber supplements and back down to drinking clear liquids until the situation is resolved/you have seen a healthcare provider.
Never ignore new symptoms or assume they’re “just constipation.”
Constipation alone does not cause a fever. If you or a loved one has both symptoms, it’s time to dig deeper. Listen to your body—when constipation comes with a fever, it could be a red flag.
When in doubt, check it out. Your gut may be telling you more than you think.
Until next time, that’s the way the anus wrinkles.
