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Updated: Oct 24, 2025

Electroacupuncture Combined with Chinese Medicine Ironing Therapy for Functional Constipation
Published on: July 5, 2024
Constipation in Pediatrics: A Clinical Review
Insights
Functional constipation is common in children, often starting in toddlerhood due to withholding or poor toilet habits. Treatment involves education, diet, and medication for effective management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Child Health
- Digestive Health
Background:
- Constipation is a frequent pediatric issue.
- Functional constipation (FC) often originates in toddlerhood.
- Behavioral factors like stool withholding are common in FC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the causes and management of functional constipation in children.
- To differentiate functional constipation from organic causes.
Main Methods:
- Review of common causes of pediatric constipation.
- Discussion of diagnostic approaches including laboratory tests and imaging for organic causes.
- Outline of treatment strategies for functional constipation.
Main Results:
- Most pediatric constipation is functional, linked to infrequent or incomplete stool evacuation.
- Inadequate fluid/fiber intake and excessive dairy/carbohydrates can contribute to FC.
- A small percentage of cases indicate underlying organic disease.
Conclusions:
- Functional constipation requires family education on the condition's nature.
- Management involves dietary adjustments (fiber, fluids), stool softeners, laxatives, and behavioral modifications.
- Distinguishing FC from organic constipation is crucial for appropriate treatment.
Abstract:
Constipation is a common problem encountered in the pediatric setting. For many children, constipation is functional in nature-potentially stemming from a pattern of stool output that is infrequent or not fully productive (ie, incomplete stool evacuation)-and includes behavioral concerns like stool withholding. In many cases of functional constipation (FC), the pattern may have started in the toddler years during or before toilet training and may now be well established. Additional factors often include inadequate fluids and fiber, or excess dietary dairy or carbohydrates. In a small percentage of cases, constipation is a symptom of an underlying organic disease process. Laboratory tests and imaging may be helpful in determining most organic concerns. In the absence of an organic process, FC can be treated by properly educating families about the nature of FC as well as careful attention to dietary fiber and fluid intake, use of stool softeners, laxatives, and behavioral modifications. [.
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