Current Paediatrics
Volume 13, Issue 2 , Pages 101-106, April 2003

The management of chronic constipation

  • D.C.A. Candy (Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist)

      Affiliations

    • ,
  • D. Edwards (Paediatric Gastroenterology Research Nurse)

Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, Chichester, PO19 6SE, UK

Abstract 

Chronic constipation in childhood, with attendant symptoms of soiling, mood changes, anorexia and painful defaecation, has a devastating effect on the quality of life. Guidelines are based largely on personal practice rather than evidence. One of the most common causes is ineffective defaecation whereby the child contracts rather than relaxes the internal sphincter and perineal muscles during defaecation. Those who pass meconium beyond 48 h after birth should be investigated further. Measurement of radio-opaque marker intestinal transit time and use of the Heaton stool form chart are useful aids to diagnosis and management. The majority of children can be successfully treated with polyethylene glycol (macrogol) plus electrolyte laxatives and behavioural techniques.

Keywords: constipation, encopresis, soiling, faecal incontinence, laxatives, polyethylene glycol, macrogol

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  • f1 Correspondence to: DCAC. E-mail: david.candy@rws-tr.nhs.uk

PII: S0957-5839(02)90422-7

doi:10.1054/cupe.2002.0422

Current Paediatrics
Volume 13, Issue 2 , Pages 101-106, April 2003

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