title: Childhood constipation: recognition, management and the role of the nurse.
abstract: Constipation is a common childhood condition that health professionals will encounter in many different settings. The majority of these cases of childhood constipation are idiopathic in nature. It is considered to exhibit the 'tip of the iceberg' phenomenon as a large number of cases remain undetected due to under-recognition by families, embarrassment regarding the condition, fear of receiving a negative response from health professionals, or parental belief there is actually something more seriously wrong and failure to accept the diagnosis. Prompt evaluation and management is likely to be associated with better outcomes. To ensure this, fast recognition of symptoms, with care taken to exclude any 'red flag' symptoms that could indicate an organic cause and subsequently a different treatment pathway, is essential. Nurses, given their regular contact with families in different settings, are suitably placed to detect these symptoms early and can play a vital role in successful management of the condition. Laxatives are the first line in management of constipation. Polyethylene glycol 3350 is the laxative that evidence-based guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2010) recommend as the initial pharmacological management. Advice should also be given about supportive measures, including diet and lifestyle changes.
authors.affiliation: Fifth year medical student, University of Bristol.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schuster Bruce
authors.affiliation: FY1 doctor, Royal London Hospital.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuster Bruce
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Bladder and Bowel Care Nurse Specialist, Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Short
authors.affiliation: Consultant Paediatrician, Torbay Hospital, Torquay.
authors.forename: Siba Prosad
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D004032:Diet; D019468:Disease Management; D004733:Enema; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'
chemical_list: D054368:Laxatives; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: Children; Continence specialist nurse; Idiopathic constipation; Laxatives; Nurse-led clinics