Related Experiment Videos
Insights
Infant constipation is often functional, treatable with diet and fissure care. Older children may need medication and psychological support for stool withholding, addressing colon distortion.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Child Health
Background:
- Constipation is a common pediatric issue.
- Functional constipation, due to increased colonic muscle tone, is most frequent.
- Hirschsprung's disease represents a rare organic cause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the causes and management of constipation in infants and children.
- To differentiate between functional and organic constipation.
- To provide guidance on treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of common causes of constipation in pediatric populations.
- Description of treatment approaches for functional constipation.
- Discussion of management for voluntary stool withholding in older children.
Main Results:
- Functional constipation in infants often resolves with dietary changes and fissure management.
- Hirschsprung's disease is a key organic differential diagnosis.
- Older children with chronic constipation require pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of infant and childhood constipation involves addressing both functional and behavioral aspects.
- Treatment requires a multi-faceted approach, including medical and psychological support.
- Restoring colonic function is crucial in cases of chronic stool withholding.
Abstract:
Most commonly, constipation in the infant is functional, with increased tone of colonic smooth muscle. Hirschsprung's disease is the best known of the infrequent organic causes. Treatment includes reassurance of parents, use of sugars, fluids and bulk and care of fissures. Voluntary stool withholding occurs in older children, who present with a variety of symptoms. Medicines are required to restore the functional capacity of the colon after chronic distortion by stool. This must be combined with psychologic help.