Constipation.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background:

• Constipation is a frequent issue in children, with unclear definitions and diagnostic criteria.
• It can be a symptom of serious conditions or a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) without structural or biochemical abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnostic criteria for constipation-related functional gastrointestinal disorders in children.
• To focus on Rome IV criteria and the American Psychiatric Association's definition of encopresis.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and diagnostic criteria from the Rome Foundation and the American Psychiatric Association.
• Analysis of the Rome IV criteria for pediatric FGIDs associated with constipation.

Main Results:

• Constipation is often classified as an FGID, defined by symptoms rather than structural findings.
• Rome IV criteria identify infant dyschezia, functional constipation, and nonretentive fecal incontinence.
• Encopresis, defined by the APA, is also discussed.

Conclusions:

• Standardized criteria like Rome IV are crucial for diagnosing and researching pediatric constipation and related FGIDs.
• Accurate diagnosis is essential, distinguishing functional constipation from other conditions.