Constipation

Constipation is a common pediatric diagnosis, affecting up to 30% of children, and accounts for 3-5% of pediatric visits. Constipation can cause significant functional disability, disrupt patients' and their families’ social activities, and result in missed school time. Constipation is characterized by infrequent, hard stools that can be associated with fecal incontinence (voluntary or involuntary), abdominal pain, and difficult or painful evacuation. While constipation can be a clinical symptom of other underlying organic diseases, 95% of cases in healthy children aged one year and older are diagnosed with functional constipation which is most prevalent in children aged 2-5 years old.
 

Main Guideline  
 

Appendices

• Appendix A: Algorithm
• Appendix B: Behavioral Interventions
• Appendix C: Oral Maintenance Therapy
• Appendix D: Rescue Therapy - Oral & Rectal
• Appendix E: Rome IV Criteria 

Handouts for Patient Families

• Bowel Management Tool and Bristol Stool Chart: English | Spanish
   

References

• References