title: Outcome of functional constipation in childhood: a 10-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the outcome of patients presenting with functional constipation in childhood during a 10-year period and to determine any risk factors for developing persistent constipation throughout adolescence and adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  72 children (mean age 4 years; 40 boys) referred for constipation were included in a longitudinal set of observations. Initial workup included segmental colonic transit time and anorectal manometry; 45 of the 72 patients could be reevaluated 10 to 12 years later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  21 of 45 patients (46%; 95% confidence interval 29% to 67%) remained constipated at follow-up. Encopresis and recurrent abdominal pain were present in 25% and 56% of patients, respectively. Patients with anorectal dyssynergia remained more frequently constipated at follow-up than the others: 61% versus 29% (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost 50% of patients presenting with constipation during childhood remained constipated on long-term follow-up. Anorectal dyssynergia is associated with a worse prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Children's Hospital, Lille University, France. l-michaud@chru-lille.fr
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.forename: Marie-Dominique
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lamblin
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mairesse
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turck
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004688:Encopresis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male