title: Novel and alternative therapies for childhood constipation.
abstract: Constipation is a worldwide problem that affects many children. Treatment of constipation is largely based on clinical experience rather than on evidence-based controlled clinical trials. Stool softeners and cathartic agents in combination with behavioral interventions constitute the programs most commonly used to facilitate painless and frequent defecation. Long-term treatment is needed for most patients, and approximately 30% of children beyond puberty continue to struggle with symptoms of constipation, such as infrequent, painful evacuation of stools and fecal incontinence. Not surprisingly, chronicity of these bowel complaints may cause significant interference with the child's emotional growth and development. Development of new therapeutic strategies is necessary in order to treat these challenging patients more effectively. This review provides an overview of novel and alternative therapies, such as new drugs, surgery, and probiotics, that are being proposed for the treatment of childhood chronic constipation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Columbus Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA. liemo@chi.osu.edu
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Liem
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Benninga
authors.forename: Hayat M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mousa
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D003248:Constipation / Q000628:therapy*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068238:Lubiprostone; D008405:Massage; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D007211:Indoles; D010880:Piperidines; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C105050:tegaserod; C419502:alvimopan; D000068238:Lubiprostone; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D000527:Alprostadil