Use of R ome II versus R ome III criteria for diagnosis of functional constipation in young children

Background There has been no study to evaluate the use of the R ome III criteria for diagnosis of constipation in the unselected young pediatric population. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the use of the R ome II and R ome III criteria for diagnosis of constipation in a group of unselected young T hai children. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted in 3010 healthy children aged 4 months–5 years who attended a well‐baby clinic. Data concerning bowel habits and behavioral components of defecation of the children were obtained by interviewing the parents. Presence of a large fecal mass in the rectum of children with possible constipation was evaluated by abdominal palpation. Results Seventy‐one children (2.4%) were found to have constipation, based on at least one of the two sets of criteria, at the time of interview. The prevalence of constipation as defined according to the R ome II and R ome III criteria for functional constipation ( FC ) was 1.9% and 1.6%, respectively. The majority of constipated children (47.9%) met the diagnostic criteria of both the R ome II and R ome III for FC , followed by the R ome II criteria for FC alone (32.4%) and the R ome III criteria for FC alone (18.3%). Twenty‐one children (0.7%) whose parents reported defecation difficulties did not fulfill any diagnostic criteria for constipation. Conclusions The prevalence of FC in young Thai children is low. For unselected young children, the R ome II criteria for FC are still appropriate for diagnosis of FC.