Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation

Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation

Functional constipation (FC) is a pediatric problem that is seen frequently. However, its prevalence in Asia remains undetermined. In this study we attempted to determine the prevalence, risk factors and therapeutic modalities of FC in infants and toddlers in Sri Lanka. Children aged 6.5 months to 4...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC pediatrics Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 285
Main Authors: Walter, Anne Willemijn, Hovenkamp, Anne, Devanarayana, Niranga Manjuri, Solanga, Roshani, Rajindrajith, Shaman, Benninga, Marc Alexander
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 15-08-2019
BioMed Central
BMC
Subjects:
Care and treatment
Child, Preschool
Constipation
Constipation - epidemiology
Constipation - therapy
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diagnosis
Epidemiology
Female
Health aspects
Healthcare consultation
Humans
Infant
Infants
Male
Obesity
Pediatric research
Pediatrics
Physicians
Prevalence
Referral and Consultation
Risk Factors
Sri Lanka - epidemiology
Therapeutics
Toddlers
Vaccination
Violence
Sri Lanka
Infants
Prevalence
Toddlers
Healthcare consultation
Constipation
Risk factors
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Summary:Functional constipation (FC) is a pediatric problem that is seen frequently. However, its prevalence in Asia remains undetermined. In this study we attempted to determine the prevalence, risk factors and therapeutic modalities of FC in infants and toddlers in Sri Lanka. Children aged 6.5 months to 4 years were selected from 14 well-baby and vaccination clinics in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka. A questionnaire with questions regarding the socio-demographic characteristics, child's bowel habits, psycho-social risk factors and treatment modalities were filled by the mothers. FC was diagnosed according to ROME III criteria. A total of 1113 children were analyzed [(female n = 560 (50.3%) with a mean age of 20.7 months, standard deviation [SD] 11.2 months. FC was found in 89 (8.0%). FC was significantly and independently associated with underweight (14.3% vs 7.2%, p = 0.008. [OR and 95% CI: 2,3 (CI; 1.3-4.2)] and residence in an urban area (9.6% vs 5.6%, p = 0.013). [OR and 95% CI: 0.592 (CI; 0.396-0.95)]. Children subjected to violence showed a significantly higher prevalence of FC (20.0 vs 7.8%, p = 0.046). Children being overweight and children living with mothers subjected to violence showed a higher, though not statistically significant, tendency to develop FC. Children with FC visited healthcare clinics more frequently when compared to controls (19.6% vs 6.0%, p < 0.0001). However, only 24% of infants and toddlers with FC were treated specifically for the condition by a doctor. FC occurred in 8% of this cohort of Sri Lankan infants and toddlers. It is significantly associated with underweight and living in an urban area. Only a quarter of them received medical attention for their constipation. SLCP/ERC/2014/12 , December 2014.
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ISSN:1471-2431
1471-2431
DOI:10.1186/s12887-019-1652-y