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Childhood constipation: longitudinal follow-up beyond puberty.
Rijk van Ginkel1, Johannes B Reitsma, Hans A Büller
1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Gastroenterology
|August 2, 2003
Summary
Childhood constipation often persists into adulthood, with 30% of patients still experiencing symptoms past puberty. Successful treatment rates reach 60% at one year but relapses are common, especially in boys.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Prognosis Studies
Background:
- Limited data exist on the long-term prognosis of childhood constipation.
- Understanding persistence into adulthood is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term outcomes and prognosis of childhood constipation.
- To assess the persistence of constipation into adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 418 constipated children (aged >5 years) after intensive treatment.
- Data collected annually for up to 8 years using standardized questionnaires.
Main Results:
- 60% of children achieved successful treatment at 1 year, rising to 80% by 8 years.
- 30% of patients aged 16+ years still had constipation.
- Relapses occurred in 50% of successfully treated children, more frequently in boys.
Conclusions:
- Intensive initial treatment leads to successful outcomes in 60% of children within a year.
- A significant proportion (one-third) of patients experience persistent constipation beyond puberty.
- Findings challenge the belief that childhood constipation resolves spontaneously during puberty.
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