Loading...
How do children with functional constipation fare in adulthood? Investigators report long-term outcomes in 401 children (age range, 5–18 years; median age at presentation, 8 years) with functional constipation who were referred to a Dutch gastroenterology clinic. Functional constipation was defined as two or more of the following criteria: defecation frequency <3 times per week, fecal incontinence frequency >2 times per week, passage of large amounts of stool at least once every 7 to 30 days, and palpable abdominal or rectal mass. The children were treated at presentation with a 6-week treatment protocol that included high fiber and laxatives, with yearly follow-up (mean follow-up, 11 years). A good clinical outcome was defined as >3 bowel …