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Encopresis and constipation in children

T F Hatch1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Urbana-Champaign.

Pediatric Clinics of North America
|April 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Chronic retentive constipation in children is a common, often undertreated condition. Early intervention and a comprehensive medical behavior program, supervised by pediatricians, can benefit most children, with some potentially needing further evaluation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Gastroenterology
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Chronic retentive constipation is prevalent in children.
  • It is frequently undertreated and resistant to standard therapies.
  • New insights into defecation dynamics complement existing medical behavior models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the pediatrician's role in preventing and managing chronic retentive constipation in children.
  • To emphasize the effectiveness of comprehensive medical behavior intervention programs.
  • To suggest further evaluation for treatment-resistant cases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current understanding of chronic retentive constipation in children.
  • Emphasis on the primary care pediatrician's role in management.
  • Discussion of medical behavior intervention and advanced diagnostics.

Main Results:

  • Primary care pediatricians are well-positioned for prevention and early intervention.
  • Comprehensive medical behavior programs supervised by pediatricians benefit most patients.
  • Further evaluation of anorectal dynamics and biofeedback may help resistant cases.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatricians can effectively manage chronic retentive constipation through counseling and intervention.
  • A staged approach, from basic intervention to advanced diagnostics, is recommended.
  • Early and comprehensive management improves outcomes for children with constipation.

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