Constipation in children is a common health problem affecting 0.7% to 29.6% children across the world. Exact etiology for developing symptoms is not clear in children and the majority is considered to have functional constipation. Alteration of rectal and pelvic floor function through the brain-gut axis seems to play a crucial role in the etiology. The diagnosis is often a symptom-based clinical process. Recently developed Rome III diagnostic criteria looks promising, both in clinical and research fields. Laboratory investigations such as barium enema, colonoscopy, anorectal manometry and colonic transit studies are rarely indicated except in those who do not respond to standard management. Treatment of childhood constipation involves several facets including education and demystification, toilet training, rational use of laxatives for disimpaction and maintenance and regular follow-up. Surgical options should be considered only when medical therapy fails in long standing constipation. Since most of the management strategies of childhood constipation are not evidence-based, high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to assess the efficacy of currently available or newly emerging therapeutic options. Contrary to the common belief that children outgrow constipation as they grow up, a sizable percentage continue to have symptoms beyond puberty.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Barium ; Child ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Constipation ; Enema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laxatives ; Manometry ; Pelvic Floor ; Puberty ; Rome ; Toilet Training

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was conducted with objectives of assessing subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children aged 10-16 years, their symptomatology and gender differences. METHODS: For this survey, 107 children who fulfilled Rome III criteria for IBS and 1,610 healthy controls were recruited from 8 randomly selected schools, in 4 provinces in Sri Lanka. Data was collected using a previously validated, self administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Constipation predominant, diarrhea predominant and mixed type IBS were almost equally distributed (27%-28%), while unsubtyped IBS had a lower prevalence (17.8%). IBS was more common in girls (59.8% vs 40.2% in boys, P = 0.001). Bloating, flatulence, burping, headache and limb pain were significantly higher in affected children (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the distribution of IBS subtypes among Sri Lankan children and adolescents and its female preponderance. This study also shows a higher prevalence of other intestinal-related and extraintestinal somatic symptoms among affected children.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Child ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Extremities ; Female ; Flatulence ; Headache ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Rome ; Sri Lanka

No abstract available.
Child* ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Humans ; Obesity*

Chronic constipation (CC) may impact on quality of life. There is substantial patient dissatisfaction; possible reasons are failure to recognize underlying constipation, inappropriate dietary advice and inadequate treatment. The aim of these practical guidelines intended for primary care physicians, and which are based on Asian perspectives, is to provide an approach to CC that is relevant to the existing health-care infrastructure. Physicians should not rely on infrequent bowel movements to diagnose CC as many patients have one or more bowel movement a day. More commonly, patients present with hard stool, straining, incomplete feeling, bloating and other dyspeptic symptoms. Physicians should consider CC in these situations and when patients are found to use laxative containing supplements. In the absence of alarm features physicians may start with a 2-4 week therapeutic trial of available pharmacological agents including osmotic, stimulant and enterokinetic agents. Where safe to do so, physicians should consider regular (as opposed to on demand dosing), combination treatment and continuous treatment for at least 4 weeks. If patients do not achieve satisfactory response, they should be referred to tertiary centers for physiological evaluation of colonic transit and pelvic floor function. Surgical referral is a last resort, which should be considered only after a thorough physiological and psychological evaluation.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Colon ; Constipation ; Health Resorts ; Humans ; Pelvic Floor ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Primary Health Care ; Quality of Life ; Referral and Consultation ; Sprains and Strains