diagnosis and treatment of functional constipation in infants and children

- Purpose and Scope

These guidelines have been developed to standardize the delivery of services and to implement the guidance on the prevention, diagnosis and management of Functional Constipation. It provides guidance to primary health care providers, pediatricians and specially trained nurses.

The guidelines aimed to diagnose and treat functional constipation in infants and young children.

This version of the guideline includes recommendations and good practice statements for functional constipation in infants and young children.

Disease/Condition:

Guideline Objective(s)

Diagnosis and treatment of functional constipation in infants and children

Health / Clinical Question (PIPOH)

P: Patient (Target Population):

Gender: Both genders

Age group: infants and children from 1-18 years

Disease/condition: functional constipation in infants and children

I: Interventions and Practices Considered / CPG Category:

Clinical: history taking and examination

Laboratory investigations:

•  laboratory investigations to diagnose (cow’s milk) allergy, celiac disease, hypothyroidism, and hypercalcemia

•  abdominal radiography (use of barium enema to diagnose organic causes such as hd

• colonic transit time (ctt)

•  transabdominal rectal ultrasonography

•  magnetic resonance imaging (mri) of the spine

•  colonic manometry

•  anorectal manometry (arm) or rectal suction biopsy to diagnose hd

•  colonic full-thickness biopsies

•  treatment

P: Professionals (Intended / Target Users or Stakeholders)        :

Primary health care physician

General practitioners

Family physician

Pediatrician

Gastroenterologist

O: Major Outcomes Considered:

Primary outcome: proper diagnosis of functional constipation

Secondary outcome: proper treatment of functional constipation

H: Healthcare Settings:

Types:

primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare centers.

•governmental healthcare sector:

moh, university, military, health insurance organization

•non-governmental healthcare sector:

private and NGO healthcare centers.