Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation
Abstract Background 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. Methods C...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2019-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-019-1652-y |
| _version_ | 1828851041137852416 |
|---|---|
| author | Anne Willemijn Walter Anne Hovenkamp Niranga Manjuri Devanarayana Roshani Solanga Shaman Rajindrajith Marc Alexander Benninga |
| author_facet | Anne Willemijn Walter Anne Hovenkamp Niranga Manjuri Devanarayana Roshani Solanga Shaman Rajindrajith Marc Alexander Benninga |
| author_sort | Anne Willemijn Walter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusions 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. Trial registration SLCP/ERC/2014/12, December 2014. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T23:24:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a80ac1e103844e8697a36ecc87fa107d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T23:24:50Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a80ac1e103844e8697a36ecc87fa107d2022-12-22T00:08:09ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312019-08-0119111010.1186/s12887-019-1652-yFunctional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultationAnne Willemijn Walter0Anne Hovenkamp1Niranga Manjuri Devanarayana2Roshani Solanga3Shaman Rajindrajith4Marc Alexander Benninga5Department of Pediatrics, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical CenterDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical CenterSenior Lecturer in Physiology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of KelaniyaMedical Officer of HealthSenior lecturer in Paediatrics, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of KelaniyaDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma Children’s Hospital, Academic Medical CenterAbstract Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusions 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. Trial registration SLCP/ERC/2014/12, December 2014.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-019-1652-yConstipationInfantsToddlersPrevalenceRisk factorsHealthcare consultation |
| spellingShingle | Anne Willemijn Walter Anne Hovenkamp Niranga Manjuri Devanarayana Roshani Solanga Shaman Rajindrajith Marc Alexander Benninga Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation BMC Pediatrics Constipation Infants Toddlers Prevalence Risk factors Healthcare consultation |
| title | Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation |
| title_full | Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation |
| title_fullStr | Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation |
| title_short | Functional constipation in infancy and early childhood: epidemiology, risk factors, and healthcare consultation |
| title_sort | functional constipation in infancy and early childhood epidemiology risk factors and healthcare consultation |
| topic | Constipation Infants Toddlers Prevalence Risk factors Healthcare consultation |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-019-1652-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annewillemijnwalter functionalconstipationininfancyandearlychildhoodepidemiologyriskfactorsandhealthcareconsultation AT annehovenkamp functionalconstipationininfancyandearlychildhoodepidemiologyriskfactorsandhealthcareconsultation AT nirangamanjuridevanarayana functionalconstipationininfancyandearlychildhoodepidemiologyriskfactorsandhealthcareconsultation AT roshanisolanga functionalconstipationininfancyandearlychildhoodepidemiologyriskfactorsandhealthcareconsultation AT shamanrajindrajith functionalconstipationininfancyandearlychildhoodepidemiologyriskfactorsandhealthcareconsultation AT marcalexanderbenninga functionalconstipationininfancyandearlychildhoodepidemiologyriskfactorsandhealthcareconsultation |