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Long-Term Outcome of Functional Childhood Constipation

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Abstract

We investigated whether functional childhood constipation (FCC) is an early expression in the continuum of functional disorders such as adult constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and dyspepsia. Adults ≥18 years with a diagnosis of FCC verified by one pediatric gastroenterologist participated in the questionnaire-based study. Controls were comprised of adults who underwent tonsillectomy as otherwise healthy children during the period corresponding to the FCC diagnosis. The prevalence of constipation, IBS, and dyspepsia was determined by the Bowel Disease Questionnaire. Twenty FCC adults (8 females), median age 22 years, were compared with 17 adult controls (10 females), median age 22.9 years. The frequency of constipation in FCC adults was not different from that in controls (25% versus 23.5%). The frequency of IBS in FCC adults was higher than in controls (55% versus 23.5%; P < 0.05). Dyspepsia was reported by 25% of both groups. The median follow-up period of the FCC adults was 14 years. In a long-term follow-up of a small sample, the prevalence of constipation in FCC adults is comparable to that in controls. Childhood constipation appears to be a predictor of IBS in adulthood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, 19803, USA

    Seema Khan

  2. Columbus Children's Hospital, Ohio State University and Harding Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

    John Campo (Chief of Psychiatry, Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)

  3. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Jeffrey A. Bridge

  4. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Laurel C. Chiappetta

  5. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical School, Madison, WI, USA

    Arnold Wald (Visiting Professor of Medicine)

  6. Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Columbus Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Carlo di Lorenzo

Authors
  1. Seema Khan
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  2. John Campo
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  3. Jeffrey A. Bridge
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  4. Laurel C. Chiappetta
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  5. Arnold Wald
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  6. Carlo di Lorenzo
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Correspondence to Seema Khan.

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Khan, S., Campo, J., Bridge, J.A. et al. Long-Term Outcome of Functional Childhood Constipation. Dig Dis Sci 52, 64–69 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9308-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9308-9

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