Pediatric Functional Constipation: A New Challenge

Functional constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder worldwide in children, adolescents, and adults. Functional constipation is persistent, difficult, and infrequent hard stooling with incomplete rectal emptying that does not have an identifiable cause, such as underlying illness, anatomica...

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Main Authors: Samina Khan Bashir, Muhammad Bashir Khan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:Advanced Gut & Microbiome Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5569563
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author Samina Khan Bashir
Muhammad Bashir Khan
author_facet Samina Khan Bashir
Muhammad Bashir Khan
author_sort Samina Khan Bashir
collection DOAJ
description Functional constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder worldwide in children, adolescents, and adults. Functional constipation is persistent, difficult, and infrequent hard stooling with incomplete rectal emptying that does not have an identifiable cause, such as underlying illness, anatomical abnormality, or medication, and is a diagnosis of exclusion that causes psychological and physical symptoms in the individual. For early identification of functional constipation in children, a physician must exclude organic causes in children by history, physical examination, and lab studies. Multiple complex pathophysiological mechanisms have been linked to childhood constipation, in which stool-withholding behavior is the most common factor. Toilet training along with osmotic laxative use is currently the common therapy for childhood constipation. Despite being a common condition and with novel therapies such as prosecretory agents, neuromodulation, and transanal irrigation modalities, it is challenging sometimes to manage constipation in children. This is due to a lack of knowledge among parents and children about the nature of constipation which causes poor adherence to the treatment and ultimately worsen the condition. The complaint of constipation in a child should not be ignored as early evaluation and treatment is beneficial for the child’s physical and psychological growth. More research is needed to prevent functional constipation in children. This review article highlights the factors responsible for pediatric functional constipation, its management, novel therapies, and challenges to managing this condition.
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spelling doaj-art-b8d8d23af56d49429c1de59e29c6eb102025-02-03T10:24:54ZengWileyAdvanced Gut & Microbiome Research2755-16522024-01-01202410.1155/2024/5569563Pediatric Functional Constipation: A New ChallengeSamina Khan Bashir0Muhammad Bashir Khan1PediatricsDepartment of BiochemistryFunctional constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder worldwide in children, adolescents, and adults. Functional constipation is persistent, difficult, and infrequent hard stooling with incomplete rectal emptying that does not have an identifiable cause, such as underlying illness, anatomical abnormality, or medication, and is a diagnosis of exclusion that causes psychological and physical symptoms in the individual. For early identification of functional constipation in children, a physician must exclude organic causes in children by history, physical examination, and lab studies. Multiple complex pathophysiological mechanisms have been linked to childhood constipation, in which stool-withholding behavior is the most common factor. Toilet training along with osmotic laxative use is currently the common therapy for childhood constipation. Despite being a common condition and with novel therapies such as prosecretory agents, neuromodulation, and transanal irrigation modalities, it is challenging sometimes to manage constipation in children. This is due to a lack of knowledge among parents and children about the nature of constipation which causes poor adherence to the treatment and ultimately worsen the condition. The complaint of constipation in a child should not be ignored as early evaluation and treatment is beneficial for the child’s physical and psychological growth. More research is needed to prevent functional constipation in children. This review article highlights the factors responsible for pediatric functional constipation, its management, novel therapies, and challenges to managing this condition.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5569563
spellingShingle Samina Khan Bashir
Muhammad Bashir Khan
Pediatric Functional Constipation: A New Challenge
Advanced Gut & Microbiome Research
title Pediatric Functional Constipation: A New Challenge
title_full Pediatric Functional Constipation: A New Challenge
title_fullStr Pediatric Functional Constipation: A New Challenge
title_full_unstemmed Pediatric Functional Constipation: A New Challenge
title_short Pediatric Functional Constipation: A New Challenge
title_sort pediatric functional constipation a new challenge
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5569563
work_keys_str_mv AT saminakhanbashir pediatricfunctionalconstipationanewchallenge
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