title: Management of constipation and encopresis in children.
abstract: Constipation is a common problem in primary care. Nurse practitioners should be able to diagnose and treat constipation appropriately and to recognize which children require referral to a gastroenterologist. Referral to a gastroenterologist is necessary for the child with simple constipation or encopresis fails to respond to treatment, an organic etiology is suspected, or complex management is required.
authors.affiliation: Texas Woman's University, nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Houston, TX 77030, USA. dmontgomery@twu.edu
authors.forename: Diane F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D004688:Encopresis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic