Constipation in Children

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Constipation in Children

• Dr. Adnan Hamawandi
• Professor of pediatrics
• School of Medicine
• University of Sulaimani

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Constipation

• Constipation is considered in children when
  hard stool is passed with difficulty every three
  days that persist for two weeks.

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Constipation Causes

• A. Organic
• Structural anal stenosis, anal fissure.
• Neuromuscular Hirshprung disease, spina bifida,
  pseudo obstruction.
• Metabolic hypokalemia, hypercalcemia,
  hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus.
• Drugs Narcotics, anticholenergic, lead,
• Intestinal IBD, celiac disease,CF,tumors.

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Constipation Causes

• B. Functional
• In an otherwise healthy child constipation
  may result simply from an episode of painful
  defecation, difficulties during the period of
  toilet training, inattention to the urge to
  defecate because of involvement in other
  activities or discomfort with toilet facilities
  in school.

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Constipation Clinical features

• A detailed history of pattern of defecation
  may reveal stool-withholding behavior like
  contracting the gluteal muscles by stiffening the
  legs while lying down or holding on furniture
  while standing, some children will squat, push
  and cry which may be misinterpreted as an attempt
  to defecate.
• Accompanying symptoms include abdominal pain,
  abdominal distention and flatulence.

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Constipation Clinical features

• Sometimes rectal bleeding, poor appetite,
  enuresis and history of UTI are associated.
• Soiling (an overflow incontinence of liquid
  stool) can be
• present in long
• standing cases.

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Constipation Clinical features

• Physical examination of the abdomen may reveal
  distention or palpable fecal masses. Digital
  examination of the rectum is needed to evaluate
  the sphincter and ampulla

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Constipation Diagnosis

• When no underlying cause is identified by history
  and physical examination a favorable response to
  treatment support the diagnosis of functional
  constipation.
• In refractory cases appropriate radiographic and
  laboratory tests are needed to rule out the
  organic causes. Barium enema and anorectal
  manometry are most helpful.

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Constipation Therapy

• For functional constipation include
• 1.patient education, a regular bowel
  training program including sitting on toilet for
  5-10 minutes after each meal is often helpful in
  establishing a regular bowel habits.
• 2. Relief of impaction can be achieved by
  enema or polyethylene glycol.
• 3. softening of stool by lactulose, high
  fiber

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Constipation Therapy

• diet, or mineral oil must be continued until
  regular bowel pattern has been established for
  several months.
• Biofeedback training may be beneficial in
  difficult cases.