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Colonic transit times and behaviour profiles in children with defecation disorders

M A Benninga1, W P Voskuijl, G W Akkerhuis

  • 1Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands. m.a.benninga@amc.uva.nl

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|January 8, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children with defecation disorders, including paediatric constipation and faecal soiling, exhibit more behavioral problems than controls. However, colonic or anorectal function did not correlate with these behavioral issues.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Defecation disorders in children are common and can impact quality of life.
  • The relationship between gastrointestinal function and behavioral issues in pediatric patients requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess behavioral profiles in children with defecation disorders using the Child Behavioural Checklist (CBCL).
  • To investigate potential correlations between behavioral scores and objective measures of colonic and anorectal function.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 215 children was divided into three groups: paediatric constipation (PC), functional non-retentive faecal soiling (FNRFS), and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP).
  • Behavioral scores from the CBCL were analyzed and compared to a normative sample.
  • Correlations were examined between CBCL scores, colonic transit time (CTT), and anorectal manometry/EMG parameters.

Main Results:

  • Children with PC and FNRFS showed significantly higher CBCL scores compared to the normative sample, indicating more behavioral problems.
  • Children with RAP had behavioral scores within the normal range.
  • No significant differences in CBCL scores were found among the three patient groups, nor were correlations found between behavioral scores and CTT or pelvic floor muscle function.

Conclusions:

  • Children experiencing defecation disorders, specifically PC and FNRFS, demonstrate a higher prevalence of behavioral problems.
  • Objective measures of colonic and anorectal function do not appear to be directly related to specific behavioral profiles in these children.
  • Further research may explore underlying mechanisms or contributing factors to behavioral issues in pediatric defecation disorders.
Abstract

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