title: Functional constipation in infants: a follow-up study.
abstract: Our objective of this study was to describe the clinical course of severe functional constipation in early childhood. Eligible patients were 47 children (60% boys; median age, 3.5 months) who had constipation in their first year of life. Follow-up data were obtained through a standardized questionnaire. Success was defined as a period of at least 4 weeks with > or =3 painless bowel movements per week. Six months after initial evaluation, 69% of the children were recovered. After initial success, a relapse occurred in 15% of the children within 3 years. A duration of symptoms <3 months before referral correlated significantly with better outcome. We conclude that most infants with severe constipation evaluated at a tertiary center are recovered after 6 months. Early therapeutic intervention may beneficially contribute to the resolution of constipation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van Rossum
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Lorijn
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Reitsma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Benninga
mesh_terms: D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics