This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 0009922808320599v1 48/1/26    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Michaud, L. Articles by Gottrand, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Michaud, L. Articles by Gottrand, F. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Outcome of Functional Constipation in Childhood: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Children's Hospital, Lille University, Lille, France, l-michaud{at}chru-lille.fr

Marie-Dominique Lamblin, MD

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Children's Hospital, Lille University, Lille, France

Sophie Mairesse, MD

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Children's Hospital, Lille University, Lille, France

Dominique Turck, MD

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Children's Hospital, Lille University, Lille, France

Frédéric Gottrand, MD, PhD

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Children's Hospital, Lille University, Lille, France

Objectives To assess the outcome of patients presenting with functional constipation in childhood during a 10-year period and to determine any risk factors for developing persistent constipation throughout adolescence and adulthood.

Patients and Methods 72 children (mean age 4 years; 40 boys) referred for constipation were included in a longitudinal set of observations. Initial workup included segmental colonic transit time and anorectal manometry; 45 of the 72 patients could be reevaluated 10 to 12 years later.

Results 21 of 45 patients (46%; 95% confidence interval 29% to 67%) remained constipated at follow-up. Encopresis and recurrent abdominal pain were present in 25% and 56% of patients, respectively. Patients with anorectal dyssynergia remained more frequently constipated at follow-up than the others: 61% versus 29% (P < .05).

Conclusion Almost 50% of patients presenting with constipation during childhood remained constipated on long-term follow-up. Anorectal dyssynergia is associated with a worse prognosis.

Key Words: constipation • slow transit time • encopresis • outcome • anorectal dyssynergia

This version was published on January 1, 2009

Clinical Pediatrics, Vol. 48, No. 1, 26-31 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0009922808320599


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?