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Bowel habits of normal Thai children
S Osatakul1, P Yossuk, L Mo-suwan
1Department of Pediatrics, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
Insights
This study analyzed bowel habits in 400 Thai children (1-72 months). Thai children exhibit larger, softer, and more frequent stools compared to Western children, likely due to dietary fiber differences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Limited data exists on pediatric bowel habits in non-Western populations.
- Dietary fiber intake significantly influences stool characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the bowel habits of healthy Thai children aged 1-72 months.
- To compare Thai children's bowel habits with those of Western children.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 400 healthy Thai children.
- Assessment of stool frequency, consistency, and volume.
- Age-based analysis from infancy to early childhood.
Main Results:
- 94% of children had at least one bowel movement daily.
- Stool frequency peaked in newborns (3.3 stools/day) and decreased with age.
- Stool consistency shifted from runny to formed by 4 months.
- Stool volume increased with age, from 16.6 ml at 1 month to 35.4 ml at 48-72 months.
- Thai children passed larger, softer, and more frequent stools than Western children.
Conclusions:
- Thai children's bowel habits differ from Western norms.
- Dietary fiber content is a probable factor influencing these differences.
Abstract:
Bowel habits were assessed in 400 healthy Thai children aged 1-72 months. The study was undertaken principally because information concerning the bowel habits of children living on a non-Western diet is lacking. Ninety-four percent of the children moved their bowels at least once a day. Mean frequency of bowel actions per day was maximal in the newborn period (3.3 stools) and declined to once a day from ages of 48 to 72 months. Most infants younger than 2 months old produced running stools; however, a change in stool consistency from runny to formed was evident in most children by 4 months of age. With increasing age, children produced larger stools: mean volume of stool was 16.6 +/- 2.3 ml at 1 month of age and increased to 35.4 +/- 7.6 ml at 48-72 months. In comparison with Western children, it seems that Thai children pass larger, softer, and more frequent stools. That difference in the bowel habits between the two ethnic groups may reflect the difference in the amount of natural fiber in their diets.