[Signs and symptoms associated with chronic constipation]

OBJECTIVE: To check whether signs and symptoms referred to by parents are associated with chronic constipation. METHODS: A comparative survey was carried out in a group of children with constipation and another group without constipation selected from a random sample. Data were collected from mothers using a structured questionnaire. Children with chronic constipation were expected to have undergone painful defecation or defecation with effort during at least thirty days with stools of hard consistency and/or bowel movements frequency below three times per week. RESULTS: An assessment was made of the variables: inappetence, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, fecal bleeding, soiling, urinary problems and vomit. Statistical differences were observed among children with and without constipation for inappetence, abdominal pain and faecal bleeding (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An association was detected between the signs and symptoms analyzed and constipation. This study stresses the need to investigate accurately whether children have constipation and the extent of its relationship with those complications.