Investigation of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Children with Constipation Referring to the Pediatric Gastrointestinal Clinic, Shiraz in 2014 - 2016

Abstract

Background: Constipation is one of the most common Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among children. The present study aimed to identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of the children suffering from constipation. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 987 children with constipation in Fars province from March 2015 to March 2016. The study data were collected in the pediatric GI clinic affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, mean, and standard deviation (SD). Results: More than 40% of the cases who referred to the pediatric GI clinic were suffering from constipation. Totally, 987 [495 females (50.2%) and 492 males (49.8%)] out of the 1000 children with constipation met the inclusion criteria. The remaining 13 children were excluded due to non-functional constipation. The mean age of the children was 4.8 ± 2.8 years (range: 6.9 months to 17.7 years). In addition, the children’s mean age at the beginning of toilet training and defecation control was 1.9 ± 0.5 years (range: 11 months to 5 years) and 2.1 ± 0.6 years (range: 17 months to 8 years), respectively. The mean of daily physical activity was 2.3 ± 3.6 hours and 707 children (71.6%) had less than one hour of daily physical activity. In addition, 54.2% and 13.9% of the children watched TV and used computer games for more than 3 hours a day, respectively. Finally, 57.5% and 48.3% of the children reported a low consumption of vegetables and grains per week, respectively. Furthermore, having constipation for more than six months was associated with the age of onset of constipation less than two years (P = 0.003). Watching television was reported in 600 (69.7%) children with more than six months constipation (P < 0.001). Conclusions: More than 40% of the cases who referred to the pediatric GI clinic were suffering from constipation. Furthermore, having constipation for more than six months was associated with the age of onset of constipation and watching television habits.