Constipation in children
SpecialtyPediatrics

Constipation in children refers to the medical condition of constipation in children. It is a functional gastrointestinal disorder.

Presentation

Children have different bowel movement patterns than adults. In addition, there is a wide spectrum of normalcy when considering children's bowel habits.[1] On average, infants have 3-4 bowel movements/day, and toddlers have 2-3 bowel movements per day. At around age 4, children develop an adult-like pattern of bowel movements (1-2 stools/day). The median onset of functional constipation in children is at 2.3 years old, with girls and boys being similarly affected.[2] Children benefit from scheduled toilet breaks, once early in the morning and 30 minutes after meals.[3][4] The Rome III Criteria for constipation in children can help to define and diagnose constipation for various age groups.[5] Constipation in children may present as encopresis, or the inappropriate passage of stool (usually involuntarily) in inappropriate places.[2] Stool can build up in the rectum, leading to rectal dilation and decreased gastric emptying. This can present as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, loss of appetite and pain.[2] Children may also have stool retentive behaviors and aversion to using the toilet as bowel movements are painful.[2] Chronic constipation in children has been associated with urinary stasis and urinary tract infections.[2]

Causes

While it is difficult to assess an exact age at which constipation most commonly arises, children frequently experience constipation in conjunction with life-changes. Examples include: toilet training, starting or transferring to a new school, and changes in diet.[1] Especially in infants, changes in formula or transitioning from breast milk to formula can cause constipation. 95% of cases of constipation in children are thought to be functional constipation (without a structural or biochemical cause).[2] Treatment of these functional causes can be focused on simply relieving the symptoms.[6]

Studies have shown a link between diets low in dietary fibres and high in processed foods, such as fast food, and childhood constipation.[7] Certain medications such as antacids, anticholinergics and opiates are also known to cause constipation in children.[2]

Congenital causes

A number of diseases present at birth can result in constipation. They are as a group uncommon with Hirschsprung's disease (HD) being the most common.[8] HD is more common in males than females, affecting 1 out of 5000 babies. In people with HD, specific types of cells called 'neural crest cells' fail to migrate to parts of the colon. This causes the affected portion of the colon to be unable to contract and relax to help push out a bowel movement. The affected portion of the colon remains contracted, making it difficult for stool to pass through.[9] Concern for HD should be raised in a child who has not passed stool during the first 48 hours of life. Milder forms of HD, in which only a small portion of the colon is affected, can present later in childhood as constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating.[9] Similar disorders to HD include anal achalasia and hypoganglionosis. In hypoganglionosis, there is a low number of neural crest cells, so the colon remains contracted. In anal achalasia, the internal anal sphincter remains contracted, making it difficult for stool to pass. However, there is a normal number of neural crest cells present.[6]

There are also congenital structural anomalies that can lead to constipation, including anterior displacement of the anus, imperforate anus, strictures, and small left colon syndrome.[6] Anterior displacement of the anus can be diagnosed on physical exam.[10] The disease causes constipation because the inappropriate positioning of the anus which make it difficult to pass a bowel movement. Imperforate anus is an anus that ends in a blind pouch and does not connect to the rest of the person's intestines. Small left colon syndrome is a rare disease in which the left side of the babies colon has a small diameter, which makes it difficult for stool to pass. A risk factor for small left colon syndrome is having a mother with diabetes.[6]

Some symptoms that may indicate an underlying disease include:[1]

Diagnosis

The diameters of different segments of the large intestine can be compared to the width of lumbar vertebra 2 for more consistent reference ranges on abdominal x-rays.[11]
Ratios of large intestinal segments compared to lumbar vertebra 2, as 75th percentile, meaning that 25% of children normally have a ratio higher than this.[11]

The Rome process suggests a diagnosis of constipation in children fewer than 4 years old when the child has 2 or more of the following complaints for at least 1 month.[6] For children older than 4 years, there must be 2 of these complaints for at least 2 months:

  • 2 or fewer bowel movements per week
  • Passing large bowel movements
  • On physical exam, a doctor may find large amounts of feces within the child's rectum.
  • A child who is already toilet trained has at least 1 accident per week involving a bowel movement.
  • Child demonstrates withholding behavior in which he or she actively tries not to pass a bowel movement.
  • Hard stools
  • Pain with defecation.

For children, the degree of constipation may be scored by the Leech or the Barr systems:

Areas used for the Leech system of constipation grading.
  • The Leech system assigns a score of 0 to 5 based on the amount of feces:[12]
  • 0: no visible feces
  • 1: scanty feces visible
  • 2: mild fecal loading
  • 3: moderate fecal loading
  • 4: severe fecal loading
  • 5: severe fecal loading with bowel dilatation
These score are assigned separately for the right colon, the left colon and the rectosigmoid colon, resulting in a maximum score of 15. A Leech score of 9 or greater is regarded as positive for constipation.[12]
  • The Barr system rates both the amount and consistency of the faeces, and assigns a score separately for the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon and rectum. Its maximum score is 22, and a score of 10 or greater is regarded as positive for constipation.[13]

Treatment

Osmotic laxatives (ex. polyethylene glycol, milk of magnesia, lactulose, etc) are recommended over stimulant laxatives (ex. sennosides, bisacodyl, etc).[14]

Lactulose and milk of magnesia have been compared with polyethylene glycol (PEG) in children. All had similar side effects such as flatulence, watery stools, stomach pain and nausea, but PEG was more effective at treating the symptoms of constipation.[5][15][16] Bisacodyl and glycerin suppositories can also be used.[2] After normal bowel movements have been restored, PEG can be continued daily as a maintenance treatment to maintain normal bowel habits. The length of PEG maintenance therapy is not well established, with some advocating continuing PEG for at least 1 months after normal bowel movements have been restored, or until the child is toilet trained.[2] Lactulose and stimulant laxatives are considered second line in the maintenance treatment of constipation.[2] Relapses of constipation symptoms are common.[2]

An increased intake in fibre or fibre supplements have been shown to improve the symptoms of constipation in comparison to placebo; however, the evidence is limited.[7] Fibre helps improve the symptoms of constipation through the action of soluble and insoluble fibres. Soluble fibres facilitate the production of a gel-like substance.[7] This increases stool size, and improves compactness, making it easier to remove the stools from the body.[7] Insoluble fibres also increase the size of the stool, and triggers the gastrointestinal tract to contract, facilitating further movement of gastro-intestinal contents.[7] Sorbitol based juices (such as apple, prune or pear juices) can help in infants or children with constipation as they increase stool water content and frequency.[2]

A structured toileting schedule (such as using the toilet after meals) or a reward system may help with chronic constipation.[2] Consultation to a child psychiatrist may be considered if treatments do not restore normal bowel function within 6 months.[2]

More evidence is needed to evaluate other non-pharmacological interventions. Probiotics are thought to provide healthy bacteria that can aid in stimulating contractions in the gastrointestinal tract to help gastrointestinal contents move forward in the body.[17] Probiotics, increased hydration, and dry cupping were found to be ineffective in the treatment of childhood constipation; however, better studies on these subjects need to be done.[7]

Epidemiology

There is wide variation in the rates of constipation as reported by research in various countries.[18] The variation in research data makes it challenging to describe the true global situation.[18]

Approximately 3% of children have constipation, with girls and boys being equally affected.[6] With constipation accounting for approximately 5% of general pediatrician visits and 25% of pediatric gastroenterologist visits, the symptom carries a significant financial impact upon our healthcare system.[1]

Society and culture

Constipation is often emotionally stressful for children and their caregivers.[19] It is common for parents to bring their children to doctors for this condition.[19] The experience of going to a doctor for this can be stressful.[19]

Too often, children at doctors receive unnecessary health care when they get medical imaging for constipation.[20] Children should only get tests when there is an indication.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Colombo JM, Wassom MC, Rosen JM (September 2015). "Constipation and Encopresis in Childhood". Pediatrics in Review. 36 (9): 392–401, quiz 402. doi:10.1542/pir.36-9-392. PMID 26330473. S2CID 35482415.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Mulhem, E; Khondoker, F; Kandiah, S (1 May 2022). "Constipation in Children and Adolescents: Evaluation and Treatment". American Family Physician. 105 (5): 469–478. PMID 35559625.
  3. ↑ Walia R, Mahajan L, Steffen R (October 2009). "Recent advances in chronic constipation". Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 21 (5): 661–666. doi:10.1097/MOP.0b013e32832ff241. PMID 19606041. S2CID 11606786.
  4. ↑ Bharucha AE (2007). "Constipation". Best Practice & Research. Clinical Gastroenterology. 21 (4): 709–731. doi:10.1016/j.bpg.2007.07.001. PMID 17643910.
  5. 1 2 Gordon M, MacDonald JK, Parker CE, Akobeng AK, Thomas AG, et al. (Cochrane IBD Group) (August 2016). "Osmotic and stimulant laxatives for the management of childhood constipation". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016 (8): CD009118. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009118.pub3. PMC 6513425. PMID 27531591.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tabbers MM, DiLorenzo C, Berger MY, Faure C, Langendam MW, Nurko S, et al. (February 2014). "Evaluation and treatment of functional constipation in infants and children: evidence-based recommendations from ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN". Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 58 (2): 258–274. doi:10.1097/mpg.0000000000000266. PMID 24345831. S2CID 13834963.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wegh CA, Baaleman DF, Tabbers MM, Smidt H, Benninga MA (January 2022). "Nonpharmacologic Treatment for Children with Functional Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis". The Journal of Pediatrics. 240: 136–149.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.09.010. PMID 34536492. S2CID 237564332.
  8. ↑ Wexner S (2006). Constipation: etiology, evaluation and management. New York: Springer.
  9. 1 2 Wesson D (November 9, 2016). "UpToDate: Constipation". UpToDate. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Congenital Anterior Displacement of Anus". Pediatrics in Review. American Academy of Pediatrics. 8 (2): 38–62. 1986-08-01. doi:10.1542/pir.8-2-38. ISSN 0191-9601.
  11. 1 2 Koppen IJ, Yacob D, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M, Benninga MA, Cooper JN, et al. (March 2017). "Assessing colonic anatomy normal values based on air contrast enemas in children younger than 6 years". Pediatric Radiology. 47 (3): 306–312. doi:10.1007/s00247-016-3746-0. PMC 5316394. PMID 27896373.
  12. 1 2 Leech SC, McHugh K, Sullivan PB (April 1999). "Evaluation of a method of assessing faecal loading on plain abdominal radiographs in children". Pediatric Radiology. 29 (4): 255–258. doi:10.1007/s002470050583. PMID 10199902. S2CID 9542750.
  13. ↑ Catto-Smith AG, McGrath KH (2012). "The Role of Diagnostic Tests in Constipation in Children". Constipation - Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment. doi:10.5772/29213. ISBN 978-953-51-0237-3.
  14. ↑ Naheed N (9 November 2007). Jenner R (ed.). "Osmotic laxative are preferable to the use of stimulant laxatives in the constipated child". BestBETs.
  15. ↑ Naheed N (16 July 2007). Jenner R (ed.). "Is PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) a more effective laxative than Lactulose in the treatment of a child who is constipated?". BestBETs.
  16. ↑ Candy D, Belsey J (February 2009). "Macrogol (polyethylene glycol) laxatives in children with functional constipation and faecal impaction: a systematic review". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 94 (2): 156–160. doi:10.1136/adc.2007.128769. PMC 2614562. PMID 19019885.
  17. ↑ Wallace C, Sinopoulou V, Gordon M, Akobeng AK, Llanos-Chea A, Hungria G, et al. (March 2022). Cochrane Gut Group (ed.). "Probiotics for treatment of chronic constipation in children". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2022 (3): CD014257. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD014257.pub2. PMC 8962960. PMID 35349168.
  18. 1 2 Boronat AC, Ferreira-Maia AP, Matijasevich A, Wang YP (June 2017). "Epidemiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children and adolescents: A systematic review". World Journal of Gastroenterology. 23 (21): 3915–3927. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3915. PMC 5467078. PMID 28638232.
  19. 1 2 3 Ferrara LR, Saccomano SJ (July 2017). "Constipation in children: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention". The Nurse Practitioner. 42 (7): 30–34. doi:10.1097/01.NPR.0000520418.32331.6e. PMID 28622255. S2CID 32386388.
  20. 1 2 Ferguson CC, Gray MP, Diaz M, Boyd KP (July 2017). "Reducing Unnecessary Imaging for Patients With Constipation in the Pediatric Emergency Department". Pediatrics. 140 (1): e20162290. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2290. PMID 28615355.
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