J Korean Med Sci.  2013 Sep;28(9):1356-1361. 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.9.1356.

Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Management of Functional Constipation at Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinics

• Chang SH
• Park KY
• Kang SK
• Kang KS
• Na SY
• Yang HR
• Uhm JH
• Ryoo E

• KMID: 1793053
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2013.28.9.1356

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and management of functional constipation at pediatric gastroenterology clinics. A prospective survey using the Rome III criteria was distributed to a group of parents of children with a constipation history and its control group in May 2008. The mean prevalence of constipation was 6.4%, which was similar to those in other countries. Statistically significant variables for children without constipation were that more children had a body mass index of below the 10th percentile even though they received more mother's care and ate balanced meals compared to the constipation group. Meanwhile, the constipation group frequently showed a history of constipation in infancy, picky-eating, lack of exercise, and retentive posturing. When analyzed with the Rome III criteria, the children showed greater than 60% rate of hard stools, painful stools, a history of large fecal mass in rectum, and its disappearance of constipation symptoms after passing a large stool. Our study found different approaches amongst pediatric gastroenterologists like rectal examinations, disimpaction, or drug treatment. Several factors addressed in our study can provide better guidelines for clinicians treating constipation and its future research.

Keyword

Constipation; Child; Prevalence; Rome III Criteria

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Body Mass Index
Child
Child, Preschool
Constipation/*diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology
Female
Hospitals
Humans
Infant
Laxatives/therapeutic use
Male
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Rectum/physiopathology
Severity of Illness Index
Laxatives

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