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[Clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with chronic constipation according to age group]

Lilian Cristiane da Silva Medeiros1, Mauro Batista de Morais, Soraia Tahan

  • 1Curso de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP-EPM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Arquivos De Gastroenterologia
|March 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Clinical characteristics of chronic constipation in children vary by age group, with fecal soiling and abdominal pain being common complications across all pediatric demographics. This study highlights age-specific differences in constipation presentation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Research
  • Child Health

Context:

  • Chronic constipation is a common pediatric issue.
  • Previous studies lacked age-specific clinical characteristic analysis.
  • Understanding age-related differences is crucial for effective management.

Purpose:

  • To analyze the clinical features of chronic constipation in pediatric patients.
  • To compare these characteristics across different pediatric age groups: infants, pre-school, school-age, and adolescents.

Summary:

  • This retrospective study analyzed 561 pediatric patients with chronic constipation.
  • Key findings include age-related variations in bowel movement frequency, fecal soiling prevalence, retentive posture, defecation fear, and abdominal pain.
  • Fecal soiling was particularly noted in pre-schoolers, school-aged children, and adolescents, with higher incidence in boys within the school-aged group.

Impact:

  • Provides age-specific insights into pediatric chronic constipation.
  • Informs tailored diagnostic and treatment strategies for different pediatric age groups.
  • Emphasizes the persistent challenges of fecal soiling and abdominal pain in pediatric constipation management.
Abstract

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