Evaluation of Cases with Chronic Constipation in Children

Objective: Chronic constipation is one of the most common problems in childhood leading approval to pediatric gastroenterology department. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical features, etiological factors and follow-up results of children with chronic constipation. Material and Methods: Cases between the ages of 1 month and 16 years with complaints of constipation who admitted to department of pediatric gastroenterology hepatology and nutrition were analyzed retrospectively between March 2004 and September 2005. 100 patients were eligible for the study. Regularly followed 74 patients were evaluated prospectively for clinical response after medication. Results: Mean age of enrolled 100 patients were 4.48 and 51% of the patients were male. Abdominal pain was present in 66% of cases. Mean duration of symptoms was 33 months. Frequency of defecation was recorded as 2-3 days in 62% of cases. Consistency and form of stool were hard and small at 61% of the patients. 92% of our patients had made meconium within the fi rst 24 hours. 18% had family history. The diet fi ber content was inadequate in 78% of our cases whereas fl uid intake was insuffi cient in 67%. There was an underlying psychological reason at 4% of our cases. Growth Yazışma Adresi / Correspondence Address: Şanlıay ŞAHİN Ankara Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Hematoloji Onkoloji Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi, Ankara, Türkiye E-posta: sanliay@yahoo.com Geliş tarihi / Received : 09.01.2014 Kabul tarihi / Accepted : 31.03.2014 DOI: 10.12956/tjpd.2014.67 1Ankara Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları, Hematoloji Onkoloji, Eğitim Araştırma Hastanesi, Ankara, Türkiye 2Kırıkkale Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Araştırma Uygulama Hastanesi, Kırıkkale, Türkiye 3Keçiören Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Ankara, Türkiye Şanlıay ŞAHİN1, Fulya GÜLERMAN2, Tülin KÖKSAL1, Ali Osman KÖKSAL3 Çocuklarda Kroni̇k Kabızlık Olgularının Değerlendi̇ri̇lmesi ̇ ̇ ̇ Evaluation of Cases with Chronic Constipation in Children