title: An important issue in the management of elimination dysfunction in children: parental awareness of constipation.
abstract: The scale of parental awareness concerning children's bowel habits and its effects on voiding dysfunction were investigated. Parents of toilet-trained children older than 4 years were given questionnaires during the first interview and after follow-up of their children's bowel habits for symptoms and signs of constipation and urinary complaints. Diagnosis of constipation was made according to the Rome III criteria. Eighty-nine patients were included in the study. The number of constipated patients almost doubled after the observation period. Most of the urinary problems resolved upon treatment of constipation. History at first interview was misleading in 42% of the patients who would benefit from a simple treatment. Most of the parents were unaware of their children's bowel habits. Before proceeding with more complicated tests or treatment of voiding dysfunction, the symptoms and signs of constipation should be sought during a close parental observation period.
authors.affiliation: GATA Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Department of Urology, Istanbul, Turkey. ilkerakyol@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: Cuneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adayener
authors.forename: Temucin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senkul
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baykal
authors.forename: Cuneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iseri
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires