Care planning, diagnosis and management in paediatric functional constipation

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Gastroenterology
• Primary Care

Background:

• Constipation affects 350/100,000 0-4-year-olds, with over one-third developing chronic conditions.
• Paediatric functional constipation significantly impacts a child's physical, psychological, and social well-being, causing caregiver stress.
• Despite its prevalence, it is often misdiagnosed and inadequately treated in primary healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To raise awareness and guide care planning, diagnosis, and management of paediatric functional constipation.
• To provide primary healthcare practitioners with essential knowledge on functional constipation.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive therapeutic planning including education, behavioral interventions, and medication.
• Assessment of pharmacological treatment concerns regarding 'dependence'.
• Consideration of advanced assessments like colonic transit studies and manometry for non-responsive cases.

Main Results:

• Functional constipation requires a multi-faceted approach, including education, behavioral strategies, and medication.
• Concerns about pharmacological dependence are unfounded.
• Advanced assessments may be beneficial for children not responding to conventional therapies.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive therapeutic plan is crucial for managing paediatric functional constipation.
• Future strategies may involve novel medical, exercise, and surgical interventions, requiring evidence-based guidelines.
• Multidisciplinary care planning is essential for addressing the physical and psychosocial aspects of unresponsive constipation.