Long-term outcome of functional childhood constipation

We investigated whether functional childhood constipation (FCC) is an early expression in the continuum of functional disorders such as adult constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and dyspepsia. Adults >or=18 years with a diagnosis of FCC verified by one pediatric gastroenterologist participated in the questionnaire-based study. Controls were comprised of adults who underwent tonsillectomy as otherwise healthy children during the period corresponding to the FCC diagnosis. The prevalence of constipation, IBS, and dyspepsia was determined by the Bowel Disease Questionnaire. Twenty FCC adults (8 females), median age 22 years, were compared with 17 adult controls (10 females), median age 22.9 years. The frequency of constipation in FCC adults was not different from that in controls (25% versus 23.5%). The frequency of IBS in FCC adults was higher than in controls (55% versus 23.5%; P < 0.05). Dyspepsia was reported by 25% of both groups. The median follow-up period of the FCC adults was 14 years. In a long-term follow-up of a small sample, the prevalence of constipation in FCC adults is comparable to that in controls. Childhood constipation appears to be a predictor of IBS in adulthood.