Fleet Enema for Children

Fleet Enema for Children is an Over-the-Counter (OTC) rectal solution containing monobasic sodium phosphate and dibasic sodium phosphate as its active ingredients, formulated at a lower strength and smaller volume than the standard adult Fleet Enema, specifically for children aged 2 to under 12 years. It belongs to the saline/osmotic laxative class of products and is supplied as a ready-to-use, pre-lubricated single-dose bottle.

As an OTC product, Fleet Enema for Children is available at pharmacies and through online pharmacies serving Malaysia and Singapore without needing a doctor’s prescription, though it should be used carefully, occasionally, and ideally with a pharmacist’s or doctor’s input given the patient is a child. Sodium phosphate enemas are well-established products, but they also carry a genuine, well-documented risk of serious electrolyte disturbance if overused or given to a child who is more vulnerable to this effect — such as a very young child, a dehydrated child, or one with reduced kidney function — which is why the dosing limits and precautions below matter more than they might for an adult product.

Fleet Enema for Children is supplied as a single, smaller-volume bottle (approximately 66.6ml) with an attached, pre-lubricated applicator tip sized for a child. The exact bottle volume, batch number, and expiry date are printed on the packaging and should be checked at the time of purchase.

• Remove the protective cap from the applicator tip; it is pre-lubricated, but a little extra water-based lubricant may be used if needed.
• Help the child lie on their left side with knees bent towards the chest.
• Gently insert the tip into the child’s rectum — never force it.
• Slowly squeeze the bottle until the solution has been delivered, then withdraw the tip.
• Encourage the child to hold the solution for a few minutes if they can, before going to the toilet.
• Do not give a second enema within the same 24-hour period unless a doctor has told you to.

For children aged 2 to under 12 years, the usual dose is one bottle (approximately 66.6ml) used as a single rectal dose, and it should not be repeated within 24 hours unless a doctor has directed it. This product is not intended for children under 2 years of age. Do not use for more than a few consecutive days without checking with a doctor, and never give a child the adult-strength Fleet Enema, as the dose and concentration are not the same.

Use Fleet Enema for Children before the expiry date printed on the bottle and outer packaging. This is a single-use, pre-filled product, and any unused portion should not be stored for later use once the seal has been broken.

Store at room temperature, below 25°C, away from direct sunlight and out of the reach and sight of children when not in use. Do not use if the seal is broken or damaged before first use.

• Common: Mild abdominal discomfort or a feeling of fullness.
• Common: Bloating or gas.
• Common: A feeling of urgency or slight rectal irritation.
• Uncommon: Loose stools after the bowel motion.
• Rare/Serious: Signs of an electrolyte disturbance — such as unusual weakness, drowsiness, confusion, muscle twitching or cramps, an irregular heartbeat, or a marked reduction in urination — which need urgent medical attention; children are more vulnerable to this than adults.
• Rare/Serious: Rectal bleeding or persistent, severe abdominal pain after use, which should be reported to a doctor promptly.

• Children under 2 years of age.
• Known or suspected bowel obstruction, blockage, or significant narrowing of the bowel, including suspected Hirschsprung’s disease.
• Active inflammatory bowel disease or unexplained rectal bleeding.
• Congestive heart failure or significant kidney (renal) impairment.
• Dehydration, or a diet that severely restricts sodium.
• Known hypersensitivity (allergy) to any ingredient in this product.

• Giving this enema together with another laxative, a diuretic (“water tablet”), or a medicine that affects kidney function or electrolyte levels can increase the risk of an electrolyte disturbance; tell a doctor or pharmacist about all other medicines the child is taking before use.
• Repeated or combined use with other phosphate-containing products should be avoided unless specifically directed by a doctor.
• No specific food interactions are known, though encouraging the child to drink plenty of clear fluids afterwards is generally advisable unless a doctor has advised otherwise.

• Read the full pack directions before use, even if you have used this product with your child before.
• Never give more than one enema in a 24-hour period unless a doctor has told you to.
• Never substitute the adult-strength Fleet Enema for this children’s version, or vice versa.
• Have a toilet nearby and accessible before starting.
• Encourage plenty of clear fluids afterwards unless a doctor has advised fluid restriction.
• If your child needs a laxative repeatedly over several days, see a doctor rather than continuing to self-treat at home.

Precautions: Sodium phosphate enemas such as Fleet Enema for Children have a well-documented risk of serious, and in rare cases fatal, electrolyte disturbance (including low blood sodium, high blood phosphate, and low blood calcium) when overused, used more frequently than directed, or given to a child who is more vulnerable to this effect — particularly a very young child, a dehydrated child, a child with reduced kidney function, or one taking a diuretic or other medicine that affects electrolytes. Never exceed the stated dose or frequency, never force the applicator, and never substitute the adult-strength Fleet Enema for this children’s formulation. Use in a child under 2 years is not recommended.

When to See a Doctor or Pharmacist: Stop use and seek medical advice if there is no bowel motion within the expected timeframe, if your child develops severe or worsening abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, or any sign of an electrolyte disturbance (unusual weakness, drowsiness, confusion, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat, or reduced urination), or if your child needs a laxative repeatedly over several days.