Abstract: The background, assessment and management of constipation in children is discussed in this review. We conducted search using electronic biomedical databases such as; Medline, and Embase, for studies published up to September 2017 with English language concerning the etiology and management of constipation in children, Following MeSh terms were used in our search strategy: “constipation”, “pediatrics”, “children”, “childhood constipation”. Constipation is quite typical in Asia, and usually of functional origin. Detailed history and appropriate physical examination, including digital rectal examination, can easily distinguish functional from organic constipation. There is no need to do any type of investigation before beginning treatment in functional constipation. Disimpaction with oral polyethylene glycol is the primary step in the management and skipping this step results in refractoriness of constipation. Polyethylene glycol is revealed to be superior to lactulose in the management of constipation. In most cases, long term (months to years) laxative treatment is required and early withdrawal results in recurrence. Radiological colon transit time research study plays an important role in the management of refractory constipation. Slow transit constipation is entirely a different entity and antegrade continence enema aids in this subset of patients.
Keywords: constipation in children, oral polyethylene glycol, Radiological colon transit.
Title: An Overview of Etiology and Management of Constipation in Children
Author: Rayan Azeb R Alharthi, Turki Muteb S Alotaibi, Reem Maqbul J Aljuaid
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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