Profile of Functional Constipation in Children at a Referral Hospital

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the social, demographic and clinical profile of functional constipation (FC) in children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary-care hospital to assess prevalence and profile of functional constipation among children (1-18 years) using Rome IV diagnostic criteria. Results: Children with FC constituted 5.56% (87/ 1565) of hospital attendees. 64.4% were between 2-6 years old and 48.3% had a past history of use of laxatives. Painful defecation was the commonest (62.1%) presenting symptom, while avoidance to school toilet was the commonest (25.3%) precipitating factor. Fecal impaction was present in 70.1% children. Conclusion: Functional constipation was the commonest cause of constipation, and a majority of these children had associated fecal impaction.