Constipation in Children: Assisting Paediatricians

Abstract

The article focuses on the definition of functional constipation in accordance with the Rome III diagnostic criteria, the Prague consensus and suggestions offered by the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). It presents data on functional constipation occurrence in children, which differ greatly between some authors (ranging from 0.7 to 29.6%, average occurrence being 8.9%). Functional constipation is detected in children of all age groups — from infants through teenagers. Severity varies from light to nasty. Only 1.6% of all cases occur due to organic disorders, while the rest are purely functional. The article describes risk factors for juvenile constipation and an algorithm for differential diagnosis of chronic constipation and Hirschprung’s disease. The main goal of treatment is to re-establish the normal density of the content of the intestines and speed up colonic transit. The algorithm of recording infants suffering functional constipation requires, first and foremost, correct nutrition and regular activities aimed at stimulating the exoneration reflex. Drug therapy includes administering peroral laxatives and other medicines to stimulate bowel movement. Pediatrics inclines toward using osmotic peroral drugs, particularly polyetilenglicol — a high-molecular polymer, which increases the volume of and softens the content of the bowels through building extra hydrogen bonds with the molecules of water and indirectly stimulates bowel movement.