Prevalence of constipation in school children

Abstract

ResumoObjetivo: Obter a prevalência de constipação intestinal em escolares, tendo em vista que constipação crônica é freqüente em nosso ambulatório geral, mas são escassos os dados sobre prevalên-cia comunitária em crianças.Métodos: Foram avaliados 1145 alunos do ciclo básico (52,5% masculinos, idade mediana 8a 4m) de 5 escolas da periferia de Botucatu. As crianças responderam questionário previamente validado, aplicado por estudantes de Curso de Auxiliar de Enfermagem especialmente treinados. Exoneração de cíbalas e/ou dificuldade / dor ao evacuar, habitualmente, caracterizaram a constipação, por um critério rigoroso. Sangue ou escape fecal como sintomas isolados não foram incluídos no critério rigoroso, mas foram considerados em outros 2 critérios.Resultados: A prevalência de CI foi de 25,1% nos meninos e 32,9% nas meninas, pelo critério rigoroso, e mais freqüente em meninas (p< 0,05). Os meninos e meninas constipados apresentavam, respectivamente, 30,5% e 31,8% de escape fecal e 14,6% e 25,7% de sangue fecal. Adicionalmente, 61 meninos e 49 meninas apresentavam escape ou sangue fecal como sintomas isolados, aumentando a prevalência pelos outros critérios.Conclusões: Foi alta a prevalência de constipação na comunidade observada. Levando-se em conta a gravidade das possíveis complicações, essas altas taxas podem ser consideradas um verdadeiro problema de saúde pública. J. pediatr. (Rio J.). 1997; 73(5):340-344: constipação intestinal, escape fecal, prevalência, crianças, escolares. AbstractObjective: To obtain the prevalence of constipation in school children, as chronic constipation is frequent among children attending our outpatient unit but only scarce data about community prevalence are available.Methods: 1145 children of the two first school years (52.5% males, median age 8y 4mo) of 5 schools in underprivileged areas were evaluated. They answered a previously validated questionnaire, applied by specially trained students of a practical nurse school. Defecation of scybalous stools and/or straining / pain, usually, were used to characterize constipation, by a strict criterium. Soiling or fecal blood occurring as isolated symptoms were not included in the strict criterium, but were included in two other criteria.Results: The prevalence of constipation was 25.1% for boys and 32.9% for girls, by the strict criterium, and was more frequent among girls (p<0.05). Constipated boys and girls presented, respectively, 30.5% e 31.8% of soiling and 14.6% and 25.7% of fecal blood. In addition 61 boys and 49 girls presented either soiling or fecal blood as isolated symptoms and increased the prevalence by the other criteria.Conclusions: The prevalence of constipation in the observed community was high. Due to the severity of the possible complications, this could be considered a public health problem.

Poor Perception of School Toilets and Increase of Functional Constipation

“…This prevalence estimate is also higher than in most previous studies, where mean/median was reported to be 14 % respectively 12 %, but a wide range is reported depending on populations observed and criteria applied [4]. Other high estimates came from a study in Brasil with 28 % [8,10]. As in previous reports, there was no influence of socioeconomic data or gender on FC prevalence.…”

“…Functional constipation (FC) and functional abdominal pain (FAP) are common problems in elementary school aged children with substantial impact on Quality of Life and usage of the Health Care System [1,2]. Relevant risk factors after exclusion of anorectal malformation or Hirschsprungs disease include nutritional factors (breastfeeding vs. formula, transition to solid foods, cow's milk protein allergy, low fibre and low liquids diet, fast food and lack of physical activity, obesity), environmental (socioeconomic status, family predisposition, urban living environment, parental rearing style), and behavioral factors (avoidance and retentive maneuvers, poor toilet training, history of violence in the family) [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

Prevalence of Chronic Constipation and Its Psychosocial Impact on Children Aged Between 4 to 14 Years and Their Parents : A Hospital Based Cross - Sectional Study

“…Another study. 15 Reported higher prevalence amongst girls in school going children. The maximum prevalence was found in age group 4-6 yrs.…”

Management of children with functional constipation referred to tertiary care

“…In a review of the literature, no consensus has been found regarding a specific gender predominance in pediatric constipation. 19 , 20 – 21 Obesity has been associated with poor response to therapy and has also been implicated as a risk factor for constipation. 22 But in the present study, only two participants were obese, not allowing this association to be further explored.…”