Functional constipation in infants: a follow-up study.
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.
van den Berg
M M
MM
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
van Rossum
C H
CH
de Lorijn
F
F
Reitsma
J B
JB
Di Lorenzo
C
C
Benninga
M A
MA
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
D002400:Cathartics