PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION IN CHILDREN WITH PERSISTENT GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS

Abstract

Background: Constipation is a common pediatric problem worldwide affecting the quality of life of children and parents. But only few children with constipation seek medical help. Alonger duration of constipation before diagnosis has been associated with complications like malnutrition, changes in behavior and growth failure and poorer long-term outcome. Methods: Children up to 12 years of age presenting to the Pediatric outpatient of a tertiary care hospital with persistent abdominal symptoms were enrolled over a period of one year. Their clinical prole was recorded and analyzed. Prevalence of functional constipation was calculated as a percentage and the association of persistent abdominal symptom with constipation was studied. Results: Amongst the 500 children studied, 84 were found to have functional constipation according to ROME IV criteria, the prevalence being 16.8%. Demographically, the mean age for cases with functional constipation was 5.19 years and the male female ratio was 1.6:1. Abdominal symptoms that were signicantly associated with functional constipation were hard stools (p 0.0001), fussy eaters (p 0.0072), abdominal distension (p 0.0053), pain abdomen (p 0.03) and decreased appetite (p0.0305). The common treatment received by these children were lactulose in 27 (32.24%), diet modication in 20 (23.8%), enema in 07 (08.33%), polyethylene glycol in 05 (05.95%) and least common was glycerin suppositories in 3 (03.57%). Conclusion: To conclude, persistent abdominal symptoms in children cannot be neglected and functional constipation must be evaluated in children coming to the outpatient with persistent abdominal symptoms.