[Response to dietary treatment for constipation in pediatric patients with neurological disability]

Introduction: constipation is common in children with neurological disability. There is scarce evidence on the response to dietary treatment and factors that modulate it. Objective: to describe the frequency of constipation and associated factors in children with neurological disability and to evaluate the response to dietary treatment in those with constipation. Patients and methods: retrospective study of children with neurological disability admitted to a long stay hospital. We evaluated the presence of constipation and its association with age, sex, diagnosis, nutritional status, motor function, diet (route, type and method) and anticonvulsant treatment. In those with constipation, we studied the response to increased fluids and fiber, recording the frequency and characteristics of bowel movements, use, and doses of laxatives. STATA was used, considering p < 0.05 as significative. Results: of 146 patients with median age 11 months (7; 20), 54 % were male, 69 % had constipation, 82 % a very diminished motor function and 88 % gastrostomy. Older patients and those who were overweight/obese were at increased risk of having constipation. Of the 101 (69 %) with constipation, 58.4 % had a positive response after increasing fiber intake from 36.4 to 95 % and water intake from 127 to 136 % of the recommendations. The modulating factor of the response to the diet was feeding by bolus (p = 0.03) and could contribute to have mixed diet (p = 0.08). Conclusion: the frequency of constipation was high and most of the children with it had a favorable response to dietary management, which can decrease the cost of treatment and improve their quality of life.