Overview

Prevalence

Genetics

Prognosis

Practice Guidelines

Tabbers MM, DiLorenzo C, Berger MY, Faure C, Langendam MW, Nurko S, Staiano A, Vandenplas Y, Benninga MA.
Evaluation and treatment of functional constipation in infants and children: evidence-based recommendations from ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;58(2):258-74. PubMed abstract / Full Text

Benninga MA, Faure C, Hyman PE, St James Roberts I, Schechter NL, Nurko S.
Childhood Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Neonate/Toddler.
Gastroenterology. 2016. PubMed abstract

Hyams JS, Di Lorenzo C, Saps M, Shulman RJ, Staiano A, van Tilburg M.
Functional Disorders: Children and Adolescents.
Gastroenterology. 2016. PubMed abstract

Roles of the Medical Home

Overview

• Poor involuntary or voluntary neurologic control and muscle coordination in the GI tract, which can be due to chronic overstretching from retained or backed-up stool, surgical disruption, abnormal anatomy, and decreased neuroregulation and sensation
• Dietary factors including inadequate fluid (especially water); inadequate fiber (found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables); constipating foods (such as infant rice cereal, bananas, and cheese); lack of stimulating foods (e.g., prunes, apples, pear juice); and unstructured grazing (instead of eating regular meals, thus losing the peristaltic stimulus of a food bolus)
• Emotional factors including anxiety over painful stools, withholding behaviors that develop after having painful/hard stools, toileting accidents or stressful training, anxiety about asking to use the bathroom, and difficulty relaxing while in the bathroom
• Lifestyle factors including inadequate exercise and lack of access to unhurried toilet time after meals or when the rectum feels full
• Intake of certain medications (antacids with calcium or aluminum, antidepressants, antihistamines, narcotics, some antihypertensives, anticonvulsants, and antipsychotics) or iron supplements (however, the iron fortification in infant formula is not considered a contributing factor). See Medications That Can Affect Colonic Function (IFFGD) for a more complete list.

Pearls & Alerts for Assessment

Consider further causes of constipation if there is delayed passage of meconium; onset <1 month of age; vomiting with abdominal pain or distension, or bilious vomiting; blood mixed into the stool; pain-causing night awakenings; weight loss; or abnormal neurologic findings (e.g., abnormal anal tone, absence of anal wink, sacral tuft of hair) or abnormal gastrointestinal tract findings (e.g., peri-anal fistula or tags, imperforate or anteriorly placed anus).

Referral to a subspecialist is recommended only when there is concern for organic disease or when constipation persists despite appropriate therapy.

While fecal incontinence (including soiling and encopresis) usually is due to constipation, 20% of incontinent children actually have non-retentive fecal incontinence (defined as socially inappropriate loss of control of the bowels not caused by constipation or another medical condition). [Koppen: 2016]

Presentations

• Straining in toddlers and older children, although in infants, straining and crying to pass normal, soft stool (known as dyschezia) is common and should improve once the infant has more muscle coordination
• In toddlers and children, behaviors that reflect attempts to not pass stool, such as standing and/or crossing their legs while straining or hiding when they need to pass stool
• Infrequent stools for the child’s age and/or very irregular patterns of stooling
• Tearing/bleeding from the rectum (anal fissures, hematochezia)
• Fecal soiling due to leakage around large, obstructing stool and decreased sensitivity and awareness of the presence of stool at the anus. Soiling (stool staining in the underwear) and encopresis (loss of full-size stool) are often used interchangeably and are both included in the term “fecal incontinence” used in current literature and guidelines.
• Pebbly or bulky hard stools (can clog the toilet). See Bristol Stool Scale (below), types 1-2.

  Bristol Stool Form Scale (click for larger image)

• Withholding and/or accidents due to anxiety about painful stools
• Onset of abdominal pain with meals, due to stimulation of the gastro-colic reflex resulting in cramping as peristalsis meets firm stool that is hard to move
• Less commonly, vomiting or reflux

Diagnostic Criteria

• Two or fewer defecations per week
• History of excessive stool retention
• History of painful or hard bowel movements
• History of large-diameter stools
• Presence of a large fecal mass in the rectum

• At least 1 episode/week of incontinence after the acquisition of toileting skills
• History of large-diameter stools that may obstruct the toilet

• Two or fewer defecations in the toilet per week in a child whose developmental age is at least 4 years
• At least 1 episode of fecal incontinence* per week
• History of retentive posturing (standing or sitting with legs crossed or straight and stiff to avoid passing stool, or hiding and becoming red in the face while straining to hold in stool) or excessive volitional stool retention
• History of painful or hard bowel movements
• Presence of a large fecal mass in the rectum
• History of large diameter stools that can obstruct the toilet

Differential Diagnosis

• Normal stooling
• Infant dyschezia
• Normal early childhood developmental phase (typical for kids ages 16-24 months) – usually situational (fear of toilet training or school bathroom avoidance) Non-retentive fecal incontinence (defined as socially inappropriate loss of control of the bowels not caused by constipation or another medical condition). [Koppen: 2016]
• Attention-deficit, autism spectrum disorder, or cognitive delays
• Sexual abuse [Philips: 2015]
• Colonic inertia or genetic predisposition
• Low fiber or fluid diet
• Inadequate nutrition

Medical Conditions Causing Condition

• Hirschsprung disease
• Spina bifida
• Cerebral palsy
• Autism
• Hypothyroidism or electrolyte disturbances
• Systemic disorders, including diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, autoimmune conditions, panhypopituitarism
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B
• Developmental delays
• Tube feeding
• Anxiety (fear of using public restrooms, asking permission to go to the bathroom at school, etc.)
• Inadequate intake of fluid and nutrition or excessive vomiting (not enough in, not enough out)
• Drug, supplement, or toxin effect (e.g., analgesics, anticholinergics, antacids, psychotropics, iron, lead, botulinum)
• Obstruction or pseudoobstruction
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Specific dietary protein allergy (e.g., cow milk protein)
• Anatomical malformations or masses of the intestinal tract
• Spinal cord dysfunction, tethered cord, tumors of the spinal cord
• Sensory integration disorder
  [Tabbers: 2014] [Philips: 2015]

Current & Past Medical History

• Was there passage of meconium after 48 hours of birth?
• Is there difficulty or delay in stooling that has been present at least 2 weeks?
• What is the consistency and appearance of the stool? Communication about different stool consistencies can be made simpler using stool scales or by looking at samples or pictures that families bring to discuss. Check if there are hard, pebble-like, or fragmented stools.
  • Stool scales used for children include the Bristol Stool Form Scale ( 383 KB) (free) and Amsterdam Infant Stool Scale (available for a cost). [International: 2016] [Tabbers: 2014]
  • Apps to track stool type, frequency, and related information (e.g., Poo Keeper)
• Are any of the following present?
  • Infrequent stooling that is associated with pain
  • Is the pain associated with a sense of urgency to stool, and is the pain relieved with the passage of stool?
  • Sharp, cramping abdominal pain
    • Typical location is near the belly button or lower left or right side.
    • Typical timing is intermittent daytime pain, during or shortly after a meal (typically dinner), or with exercise.
  • Stool withholding or fear of passing stool
  • Stool leaking/fecal soiling (involuntary staining of the underpants, also known as encopresis) or stool accidents not appropriate for developmental age. [Hyams: 2016] Soiling is more commonly associated with constipation, whereas loss of full-size stool may be associated with functional non-retentive fecal incontinence (FNRFI). [Koppen: 2016] Fecal incontinence that occurs without evidence of stool retention or slowed colonic transit time, or is in conjunction with urinary incontinence, or is associated with stress or trauma in the child’s life, should trigger the clinician to consider a diagnosis of functional non-retentive fecal incontinence.
  • Toilet clogging (large, bulky stools)
  • Dyschezia
  • Sense of incomplete bowel movements/unable to fully empty
  • Early satiety/fills up fast, sense of bloating or nausea, prefers to snack rather than have a full meal
  • Change in eating patterns (volume/pace) associated with changes in bowel frequency
  • Irritability when no stool has passed recently
  • School absence related to constipation or abdominal pain
• What is the toileting schedule or pattern? The Stool Diary Using Bristol Stool Form Scale (NIH) ( 147 KB) can help families record this information.
• What is the timing and composition of meals, snacks, and fluid intake? A 3-day intake diary may be useful to review.
  • Is there excessive milk or juice intake?
  • Is there a pattern of eating small amounts throughout the day (grazing pattern of eating)?
• Ask about frequency of exercise. For children with limited mobility, ask about time in standers or walkers.
• Identify chronic illnesses and medical conditions, including prior procedures and surgeries. Obtain information about any prior GI studies or tests and any medical providers already consulted for this issue.
• Identify all over-the-counter and prescription medications, fiber, and natural remedies used.

Physical Exam

Laboratory Testing

Imaging

• Anorectal manometry can help identify increased rectal sensory threshold (i.e., difficulty sensing stool burden), paradoxical contraction of pelvic floor muscles and external anal sphincter, or failure of relaxation of the internal anal sphincter. This requires a cooperative child.
• Colonic manometry can assess sensation and tone and may be used in the assessment of sensorimotor function.
• Anal sphincter electromyography can be used to evaluate the activity of the external anal sphincter and puborectalis muscles. This can be used in biofeedback to support more efficient, effective passage of stool.
• Colonic transit time (CTT) may assist in differentiating between fecal incontinence that is related to constipation (in which the transit time may be slower than normal) and functional non-retentive fecal incontinence, which is associated with normal CTT. CTT can be assessed via abdominal X-ray after swallowing a radio-opaque marker or by colonic transit scintigraphy. [Koppen: 2016]

Pearls & Alerts for Treatment & Management

The most highly recommended medication for maintenance therapy for pediatric functional constipation is polyethylene glycol (PEG). Lactulose, milk of magnesia, mineral oil, and stimulant laxatives can be added or used as second-line therapies. [Tabbers: 2014] While current guidelines support use of lactulose over the other second-line therapies, a 2016 Cochrane review found it inferior to mineral oil (liquid paraffin) or milk of magnesia. [Gordon: 2016]

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and lactulose are considered the safest medications for daily maintenance therapy in children. [Tabbers: 2014] Maintenance therapy is generally recommended to be continued for at least 6 months and then gradually discontinued with monitoring of stools to make sure the tapering is tolerated. [Tabbers: 2014] Some experts advised maintenance therapy for up to 18 months. Early discontinuation of maintenance therapy by families or clinicians is a common reason for constipation to recur. Dosing guidance is in Pharmacy & Medications, below.

Children with moderate to severe constipation typically need a “clean-out” prior to initiating maintenance therapy. The goal of a clean-out is to stimulate and soften bowel movements, not to obtain clear liquid stools needed to prep for a colonoscopy.

Starch- and xanthan gum-based thickeners are used to increase the density of fluids to reduce the risk of aspiration for children with swallowing dysfunction. Recent research suggests that interactions between starch-based thickeners and PEG may result in inconsistent thickening and thus reduce their effectiveness. To date, xanthan gum-based thickeners do not seem to be affected by PEG. [Carlisle: 2016]

While constipation is generally treated the same way in children with neurological impairment (NI) as for children without neurological impairment, severe pneumonias have been linked to aspiration of polyethylene glycol and other oral laxatives in children with NI. [Romano: 2017]

Diapers are a large health care expense. Generally, Medicaid will cover the cost of diapers for the incontinent child after age 3 through a home care company with a clinician’s prescription and letter of medical necessity. Less frequently, private payers can be convinced to do this.

Over the Counter Medications

Common Complaints

Systems

Gastro-Intestinal & Bowel Function

Constipation management varies by age but generally includes optimizing dietary fiber and water intake and limiting constipating foods; improving toileting practices; ensuring adequate exercise and relaxation; and judicious use of laxative medications. Frequent follow-up in the primary care setting can be very helpful to ensure success. Refractory constipation may require guidance from a Pediatric Gastroenterologist and may entail additional interventions including biofeedback - see Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Functional Constipation in Children ( 62 KB), scheduled enemas, or surgical interventions. The following information explains developmental approaches to treatment of constipation, prevention, and complications. Medications (including fiber supplements) and complementary & alternative approaches are addressed in subsequent sections.

Educational resources for parents may include:

• Management and Prevention of Constipation in Children (Medical Home Portal)
• Let’s Talk About Constipation and Home Bowel Program (Intermountain Healthcare) ()
• Constipation in Children: Understanding and Treating This Common Problem (Video)

Infancy
A common time for infants to become constipated is during the introduction of solid foods and cereals to the diet. Infants may express more irritability or arch their back and cry when passing hard stool. Clinicians should provide education about normal stooling patterns in infants and manage constipation when it arises. There is insufficient evidence to routinely recommend use of a probiotic or hydrolyzed formula as first-line treatments of constipation in infants; however, in infants who do not respond to laxative therapy, a 2- to 4-week trial of a hypoallergenic formula (without cow’s milk protein) may be considered. For breastfed infants, a maternal avoidance diet of cow’s milk protein could alternatively be considered. It is advised for families to avoid or limit rectal manipulations to encourage regular bowel movements in infants; this can be associated with more problems like fissures, pain, and worsening symptoms.

Toilet Training
Constipation occurs more frequently in children who are toilet training. Painful stooling can lead to irritability or anxiety in children and increased reluctance to use the toilet. Clinicians should explain to parents that the development of continence of urine and of stool often does not happen simultaneously, and fecal incontinence occurs from involuntary overflow of stool and not from voluntary defiance. Clinicians can instruct parents to:

• Ensure easy access to the potty or toilet, which should be comfortable getting on, off, and while sitting.
• Provide supportive seating. The child should be able to rest his or her feet on a stool or the floor. Handles can provide additional support.
• Provide adequate time to pass stool. Many children will have better success with passing stool if they regularly take advantage of the gastro-colic reflex after meals.
• Gently encourage efforts to use the potty. Avoid reprimanding or shaming children when they have accidents. Use of small rewards like stickers can be helpful. Keeping a stool diary can be motivating as well as informative.

Older Children
Older children and adolescents may develop constipation when they attend school or are away from home. Many children feel anxious or embarrassed about using unfamiliar bathrooms to pass stool. In school, limited time and access to the bathroom make it harder to relax and pass stool. Inattentive or oppositional behaviors also can contribute to constipation. This can result in the painful and retentive cycle of constipation described above. This is often detected when the internal anal sphincter loses sensitivity, and encopresis occurs. Parents can help children in this situation by discussing and planning ahead for bowel movements outside the home and normalizing bodily functions to reduce any shame the child feels about stooling.

Setting a schedule to sit on the toilet for 5-10 minutes after meals, and possibly after school, may help children form good bowel habits. This time should be relaxed and not rushed. The child should be able to sit comfortably on the toilet with feet on a stool to facilitate good positioning with knees up. Blowing into a straw to inflate a balloon on the end or holding the knees or pillow are good ways to encourage proper Valsalva breathing techniques during active pushing. Boys may benefit from sitting to pee, providing an opportunity to pass stool at the same time. Keeping a bowel diary and using incentives to reward compliance with the stool schedule may be motivating to older children as well as for younger kids who are potty training. These techniques help children with constipation and also can be used for treatment of functional non-retentive fecal incontinence. [Koppen: 2016]

Prevention of Constipation
Although there is little supporting evidence, commonly given advice is to ensure healthy eating habits and diet, regular exercise, adequate fluid and fiber intake, and relaxed toileting, particularly after larger meals. Ensure that children and youth with neurologic impairment or tube feeding obtain adequate fiber and water intake. [Romano: 2017]

Fiber: A healthy diet helps ensure adequate nutrition and fiber intake and may help prevent constipation. A healthy diet includes at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily in addition to peas, nuts, beans, and fiber-rich cereals and breads. Examples of particularly high-fiber foods include apples, pears, prunes, apricots, plums, raisins, raw tomatoes, peas, beans, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. Low-fiber or constipating foods include rice, cooked carrots, dairy products, bananas, and cereals or breads that are not high in fiber. [Healthy: 2017] MyPlate (USDA) offers personalized eating plans for families and interactive tools to help plan and assess food choices. Refer families to How to Get Your Child to Eat More Fruits & Veggies (AAP) for practical suggestions.

Traditionally, recommended daily grams of dietary fiber can be estimated using the child’s age plus 5-10; however, newer U.S. dietary guidelines advise higher fiber intake of 14g of fiber for every 1,000 calories in the diet. The following summarizes fiber intake goals for children and young adults based on the recommended high fiber goal: [U.S.: 2020]

• Males
  • Age 2-3 years – 14 g
  • Age 4-8 years – 20 g
  • Age 9-13 years – 25 g
  • Age 14-18 years – 31 g
  • Age 19-30 years – 34 g
• Females
  • Age 2-3 years – 14 g
  • Age 4-8 years – 17 g
  • Age 9-13 years – 22 g
  • Age 14-18 years – 25 g
  • Age 19-30 years – 28 g

For children >1 year old who are formula dependent, prescribe a formula with fiber unless it is not available or tolerated. More information about over-the-counter fiber supplements can be found below, toward the end of the Pharmacy & Medications section.

Scheduled Meals: Grazing, particularly on low-fiber foods, may increase the risk of constipation because it 1) decreases the size of regular meals and the resulting bolus of food that should propel stool through the gut and 2) reduces the gastro-colic reflex.

Water Intake: In the US, there are no commonly accepted recommendations for daily water intake for children. [Healthy: 2016] An Australian resource recommends 1.2-1.5 liters (around 5-6 cups) daily of water for children ages 4-13. [HealthyKids: 2015] Some clinicians use the Holliday-Segar method to estimate daily fluid requirements for a child: [Meyers: 2009] Fluid intake prescriptions for tube-fed children should include both the needed total liquid nutrition volume, total calories needed per day, plus additional free water to meet daily fluid requirements.

Holliday-Segar method for calculating daily fluid requirements:

• 100 ml/kg for the 1st 10 kg of weight
• 50 ml/kg for the 2nd 10 kg of weight
• 20 ml/kg for the remaining weight

Holliday-Segar adaptation to calculate hourly maintenance fluids (useful for kids who are on continuous tube feeds):

• 100 ml/kg/24-hours - 4 ml/kg/hr for the 1st 10 kg
• 50 ml/kg/24-hours - 2 ml/kg/hr for the 2nd 10 kg
• 20 ml/kg/24-hours - 1 ml/kg/hr for the remainder

Exercise: Recommend that children exercise daily for at least an hour. While there is a lack of high-quality evidence about using exercise as treatment for constipation, children who exercise regularly are at decreased risk for constipation. [Koppen: 2015] For children with restricted mobility, encourage time spent in upright positioning, such as in a stander or walker; there is very limited evidence that this positioning, which uses gravity, may help decrease pain associated with passing stools in children with cerebral palsy. [Rivi: 2014]

Relaxation: Discuss the benefits of relaxation. Ensure that children have regular, unrushed time on the toilet, ideally at least 5 minutes after meals. [Koppen: 2015] Increasing fluid intake leads to increased urination, which can help with anal relaxation. Sitting in a warm tub may be helpful, too. Deep breathing and conscious relaxation of the muscles involved in stool elimination can also help a child to relax; however, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend using biofeedback or behavioral therapies for routine treatment of children with functional constipation. [Tabbers: 2014]

Further information for clinicians:

• Toilet Training for CYSHCN - Information to help determine when a child with special health care needs may be ready to train.
• Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Functional Constipation in Children ( 62 KB) - Treatment details related to education, toilet training, behavioral therapy, biofeedback training, fiber, fluid, and exercise; an excerpt from [Koppen: 2015].

Complications of Constipation
Constipation, particularly chronic, can lead to pain, rectal fissures, rectal prolapse, hemorrhoids, encopresis, enuresis, urinary tract infections, ureteral obstruction, rectal ulcer (solitary), bacterial overgrowth, malabsorption, protein-losing enteropathy, and psychosocial disturbances.

Specialty Collaborations & Other Services

General Counseling Services (see MT providers [147])

A referral may be helpful to assist with behavioral concerns, non-pharmaceutical management of chronic pain, and anxiety, which may be contributing to constipation.

On the Web

Differential Diagnosis of Constipation in Children (AAFP)
This article reviews assessment and management of constipation in children. Table 4 lists recommended diagnostic evaluation for conditions that may be constipation in children; American Academy of Family Physicians.

Pediatric Constipation (Project ECHO Webinar)
In this 49-minute webinar video, Dr. Raza Patel, gastroenterologist at University of Utah Health, discusses constipation in newborns, infants, and children in developing stages. He provides resources and treatment methods for providers and parents. Presented on 1/20/2021.

PedsGI.Net
Raza Ali Patel MD, MPH, a board-certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist at the University of Utah/Primary Children’s Hospital, developed this web-page to help patients and families and to act as a resource to others around the world with common pediatric gastroenterology issues. The site offers quality medical information about constipation, eosinophilic esophagitis, transnasal endoscopy, and colonoscopy.

Helpful Articles

Benninga MA, Tabbers MM, van Rijn RR.
How to use a plain abdominal radiograph in children with functional defecation disorders.
Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2016;101(4):187-93. PubMed abstract
This review describes and evaluates the value of different existing scoring methods to assess faecal loading on an abdominal radiograph with or without the use of radio-opaque markers, to measure colonic transit time, in the diagnosis of these defecation-related FGIDs.

Rajindrajith S, Devanarayana NM, Thapar N, Benninga MA.
Functional Fecal Incontinence in Children: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Evaluation, and Management.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2021. PubMed abstract
Functional fecal incontinence (FI) comprises constipation-associated fecal incontinence and nonretentive fecal incontinence. Although conventional interventions such as toilet training and laxatives successfully treat most children with constipation associated FI, children with nonretentive fecal incontinence need more psychologically based therapeutic options. Intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin, transanal irrigation and, in select cases, surgical interventions have been used in more resistant children with constipation associated FI.; European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology.

Romano C, van Wynckel M, Hulst J, Broekaert I, Bronsky J, Dall'Oglio L, Mis NF, Hojsak I, Orel R, Papadopoulou A, Schaeppi M, Thapar N, Wilschanski M, Sullivan P, Gottrand F.
European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Gastrointestinal and Nutritional Complications in Children With Neurological Impairment.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017;65(2):242-264. PubMed abstract
With this report, European Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition aims to develop uniform guidelines for the management of the gastroenterological and nutritional problems in children with neurological impairment.

Southwell BR.
Treatment of childhood constipation: a synthesis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;14(3):163-174. PubMed abstract
This review covers meta-analyses and evidence for treatment of paediatric constipation since 2016 and new emerging treatments.

Assessment Tools/Scales

Bristol Stool Form Scale ( 383 KB)
Images of 7 stool types, created to facilitate better communication among families and clinicians about bowel movements; developed by the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Chronic Constipation Evaluation Tool ( 84 KB)
Provides a format for evaluation of chronic constipation in children. Can be used as a note in a paper chart, or reformatted for electronic medical records.

Questionnaires/Diaries/Data Tools

Stool Diary Using Bristol Stool Form Scale (NIH) ( 147 KB)
Printable record of stool habits for 1 week; originally from Lewis SJ, Heaton KW, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology - reproduced by the National Institutes of Health.

Food Record (University of Rochester) ( 151 KB)
A 3-day food record with instructions for parents.

Poo Keeper
Free app for smartphones or tablets, available on Apple and Google Play, is used to record stool type and consistency and keep a bowel habits log that can be shared with a physician. Offers in-app purchases.

Patient Education & Instructions

Complete Constipation Care Package (GIKids) ( 178 KB)
14-page packet of printable patient education materials from the American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). Includes Constipation (pgs 1-2), Constipation and Fecal Soiling with cleanout and maintenance therapy (pgs 3-5), Nutrition for Constipation in the First 12 Months (pg 6), Fluid and Fiber (pgs 7-9), Water Tracker (pg 10), Toilet Training Tips (pgs 11-13), and Bowel Management Tool (pg 14).

Complete Constipation Care Package - Spanish Version ( 2.0 MB)

Complete Constipation Care Package - French Version ( 2.0 MB)

Constipation in Children: Understanding and Treating This Common Problem (Video)
An 8-minute video that helps parents and other caregivers understand constipation and what can be done to remedy it. Explains bowel clean-outs, maintenance therapy, and the brain-gut connection; made by experts from the Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic at Primary Children’s Hospital.

The Poo in You - Constipation and Encopresis Video (Children's Hospital Colorado)
Excellent 5-minute video about why soiling accidents occur and what can be done to make them stop happening. Includes simple information about the digestive process, role of colon, and medicines that may help with constipation and resulting encopresis.

La Popó Dentro De Ti (video)

The Poo In You - Deutsch /German version

Let’s Talk About Constipation and Home Bowel Program (Intermountain Healthcare) ()
4-page printable handout explaining childhood constipation and home care, with scannable link to video.

Let's Talk About... Rectal Suppository (Spanish & English)
Two-page handout for caregivers about rectal suppositories for children; Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital.

Hablemos Acercos De...Supositorio Rectal ()

Let's Talk About... Enemas, Small Volume (Spanish & English)
Handout for caregivers on how to give small volume enemas to children; Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital.

Hablemos Acercos De...Enema, Volumen Pequeño ()

Let's Talk About... Enemas, Large-Volume (Spanish & English) ()
Handout for caregivers on how to give large-volume enemas of saline, glycerin, castile soap, or phosphate solution to children; Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital.

Hablemos Acercos De...Enema, Gran Volumen ()

Information on the Web

GIKids (NASPGHAN)
GIKids provides children and families with resources and easy-to-understand information on the diagnosis and management of pediatric digestive disorders including: Celiac disease, Constipation, Eosinophilic esophagitis, GERD & Reflux, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, plus nutrition, tests, and procedures; North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN).

Constipation in Children (AAP)
Learn how to know if your child is constipated and, if so, what to do about it; on HealthyChildren.org, sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

About Kids GI Health (IFFGD)
Reliable digestive health knowledge, support, and assistance about functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders in children and adults; International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Baby's First Days: Bowel Movements & Urination (AAP)
Important points about first bowel movements on HealthyChildren.org; American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dietary Fiber (IFFGD)
Information about different kinds of fiber, how to incorporate fiber into the diet gradually, and serving sizes to help prevent constipation; International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Q & A Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) and Pediatric Populations
Videos of experts discussed DGBI in children. The Rome Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the creation of scientific data and educational information to assist in diagnosing and treating DGBIs, formerly called Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs).

Studies/Registries

Pediatric Constipation (clinicaltrials.gov)
Studies looking at better understanding, diagnosing, and treating this condition; from the National Library of Medicine.

Services for Patients & Families in Montana (MT)

For services not listed above, browse our Services categories or search our database.

* number of provider listings may vary by how states categorize services, whether providers are listed by organization or individual, how services are organized in the state, and other factors; Nationwide (NW) providers are generally limited to web-based services, provider locator services, and organizations that serve children from across the nation.

Avelar Rodriguez D, Popov J, Ratcliffe EM, Toro Monjaraz EM.
Functional Constipation and the Gut Microbiome in Children: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence.
Front Pediatr. 2020;8:595531. PubMed abstract / Full Text
In this review, we provide an overview of preclinical and clinical studies that focus on the potential mechanisms through which the gut microbiome might contribute to the clinical presentation of functional constipation in pediatrics.

Benninga MA, Faure C, Hyman PE, St James Roberts I, Schechter NL, Nurko S.
Childhood Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Neonate/Toddler.
Gastroenterology. 2016. PubMed abstract

Benninga MA, Tabbers MM, van Rijn RR.
How to use a plain abdominal radiograph in children with functional defecation disorders.
Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2016;101(4):187-93. PubMed abstract
This review describes and evaluates the value of different existing scoring methods to assess faecal loading on an abdominal radiograph with or without the use of radio-opaque markers, to measure colonic transit time, in the diagnosis of these defecation-related FGIDs.

Borowitz SM.
Pediatric Constipation Medication.
Medscape; (2016) http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/928185-medication. Accessed on June 2021.
Written by medical experts, information about medications used to treat constipation in children. Medications include osmotic laxatives, lubricants, stimulant laxatives, stool softeners, and stool softeners in combination with stimulants. Sign in required.

Broide E, Pintov S, Portnoy S, Barg J, Klinowski E, Scapa E.
Effectiveness of acupuncture for treatment of childhood constipation.
Dig Dis Sci. 2001;46(6):1270-5. PubMed abstract

Carlisle BJ, Craft G, Harmon JP, Ilkevitch A, Nicoghosian J, Sheyner I, Stewart JT.
PEG and Thickeners: A Critical Interaction Between Polyethylene Glycol Laxative and Starch-Based Thickeners.
J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2016;17(9):860-1. PubMed abstract

Drugs.com.
Bulk-Forming Laxatives.
Drugs.com; (2008) http://www.drugs.com/monograph/bulk-forming-laxatives.html. Accessed on June 2021.
Fiber laxatives with doses and warnings.

Gordon M, MacDonald JK, Parker CE, Akobeng AK, Thomas AG.
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This study systematically reviewed the literature regarding the epidemiology of functional constipation and functional nonretentive fecal incontinence (FNRFI) in children. Secondary objectives were to assess the geographical, age, and sex distribution of functional constipation and FNRFI and to evaluate associated factors.

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Functional fecal incontinence (FI) comprises constipation-associated fecal incontinence and nonretentive fecal incontinence. Although conventional interventions such as toilet training and laxatives successfully treat most children with constipation associated FI, children with nonretentive fecal incontinence need more psychologically based therapeutic options. Intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin, transanal irrigation and, in select cases, surgical interventions have been used in more resistant children with constipation associated FI.; European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology.

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