title: Juvenile idiopathic constipation.
abstract: It usually causes the child to strain to defecate, to pass hard stools and to do so less frequently than normal. Associated faecal leakage, which is often mistaken for diarrhoea, suggests faecal impaction. One third of children with chronic constipation have problems beyond puberty. When the condition is not caused by anatomical or physiological abnormalities, it is known as idiopathic constipation. It is important to exclude abnormalities requiring medical or surgical intervention before treating constipation. NICE (2010) identifies: red-flag symptoms, which indicate an underlying disorder requiring urgent referral to a specialist; and amber-flag symptoms, which suggest idiopathic constipation is possible. It also offers best practice advice on the care of children with idiopathic constipation. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is vital to avoid complications such as anal fissure or faecal impaction related to chronic constipation.
authors.affiliation: Berkshire West PCT, Wokingham Community Hospital.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prynn
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*