| Functional constipation | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Chronic idiopathic constipation |
| Specialty | Gastroenterology |
| Symptoms | Hard or lumpy stools, decreased frequency ofbowel movements, a feeling of incomplete evacuation or obstruction, straining,stomach pain andbloating. |
| Diagnostic method | Rome criteria, history and physical examination. |
| Treatment | Education, lifestyle modification, faecal disimpaction, and maintenance therapy. |
| Medication | polyethylene glycol (PEG),milk of magnesia,senna,bisacodyl,plecanatide,linaclotide, andlubiprostone. |
Functional constipation, also known aschronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), is defined by less than threebowel movements per week, hard stools, severe straining, the sensation of anorectal blockage, the feeling of incomplete evacuation, and the need for manual maneuvers duringfeces, without organic abnormalities. Many illnesses, includingendocrine,metabolic,neurological,mental, and gastrointestinal obstructions, can causeconstipation as a secondary symptom. When there is no such cause, functional constipation is diagnosed.[1]
Functional constipation requires symptoms to be present at least a fourth of the time. Causes includeanismus,descending perineum syndrome, inability to control the external anal sphincter, poor diet, unwillingness to defecate, nervous reactions, and deeppsychosomatic disorders. Comorbid symptoms such asheadache may also be present, especially in children.
Functional constipation is diagnosed using theRome criteria, a consensus of experts. The criteria include over 25% of defecations involving straining, 25% resulting in lumpy or hard stools, 25% requiring partial evacuation, 25% experiencing anorectal blockage or obstruction, and 25% using manual techniques. Less than three weekly spontaneous bowel movements are also considered. A thorough history and physical examination, including adigital rectal exam, is crucial for diagnosing constipation. Additional laboratory testing is typically used in cases of uncertainty or to rule out underlying medical conditions.
Functional constipation is a condition that requires nonpharmacological management, including education and lifestyle modifications. It begins with dietary guidelines, focusing on regularfiber and fluid intake. Children with functional constipation should consume a normal intake of fiber, as per ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN criteria. Parents and children should receive counseling aboutoverflow incontinence and withholding behavior. An organized toilet-training program with a reward system can help reduce faecal impaction.
Pharmacological treatment for children with functional constipation consists of maintenance therapy and faecal disimpaction. High-dose oralpolyethylene glycol (PEG) orenemas containing active substances can induce fecal disimpaction, while maintenance therapy is recommended after successful disimpaction to avoid reoccurring stool buildup.Glycerine orbisacodyl suppositories are also used for both adults and children. Maintenance treatment for functional constipation includes osmotic laxatives,milk of magnesia, and mineral oil. Stimulant laxatives such as senna or bisacodyl are recommended for those with persistent symptoms.
Individuals suffering from functional constipation often exhibit hard or lumpy stools, decreased frequency ofbowel movements, a feeling of incomplete evacuation or obstruction, straining, and in some cases,stomach pain andbloating.[2] Generally speaking, symptoms are considered chronic if they have persisted for three months or more.[3]
Faecal incontinence, which is the involuntary loss of stools in the underwear during toilet training and is brought on by an overflow of soft stools passing around a solid faecal mass in therectum (faecal impaction), is a common symptom in children.[4] Urinary symptoms, includingurine incontinence andurinary tract infections, are frequently observed in children who suffer from functional constipation.[5]
To be considered functional constipation, symptoms must be present at least a fourth of the time.[6] Possible causes are:
There is also possibility of presentation with other comorbid symptoms such as headache, especially in children.[7]
Functional constipation cannot be diagnosed with particular testing; instead, the Rome criteria, a consensus of experts, is used to make this diagnosis.[8] The Rome IV criteria define functional constipation as meeting at least two of the six requirements given below:[9]
A thorough history and physical examination should be performed while evaluating constipation.[10] Along with push and squeeze maneuvers, a comprehensivedigital rectal exam (DRE) is a crucial component of the clinical examination.[11]
Generally speaking, additional laboratory testing should be carried out only in cases of uncertainty or to rule out underlying medical conditions such ashypothyroidism orceliac disease.Abdominal radiography, with or without the introduction of radio-opaque markers to determine colonic transit time, andabdominal ultrasonography are frequently employed supplementary tests in the diagnosis of constipation.[12]
Chronic idiopathic constipation is similar to constipation-predominantirritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C); however, people with CIC do not have other symptoms of IBS, such as abdominal pain.[6]
Treatment for functional constipation begins with nonpharmacological management. This includes education and lifestyle modifications, such as diet changes, consistent exercise, and guidance on proper body position and behavior when using the restroom.[13]
The first treatments for constipation are dietary guidelines, which include the requirement for a regular consumption offiber and fluids. A normal intake of fiber is advocated for children with functional constipation, as per the criteria of ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN. It is not recommended to increase the consumption of fiber above what is considered normal.[14]
In order to effectively treat childhood constipation, it is imperative that parents and children receive counseling. This includes teaching them about the concept ofoverflow incontinence and the significance of withholding behavior.[13] One way to reducefaecal impaction and lower the risk offaecal incontinence is to use an organizedtoilet-training program with a reward system that instructs the kid to try to defaecate at least twice or three times a day (after each meal).[15]
Children with functional constipation can be treated pharmacologically in two stages: maintenance therapy and faecal disimpaction. High-dose oralpolyethylene glycol (PEG) orenemas containing active substances suchsodium phosphate,sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, orsodium docusate can be used to induce fecal disimpaction. Maintenance therapy is suggested following successful disimpaction in order to avoid reoccurring stool buildup. Adults rarely need faecal disimpaction, although the methods are comparable, and substantial doses of PEG ormagnesium citrate are popular oral therapies. For both adults and children,glycerine orbisacodyl suppositories provide an alternative toenemas.[13]
The first-choice maintenance treatment advised for functional constipation isosmotic laxatives.[14][16] Other often used laxatives includemilk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) andmineral oil, a lubricant.[13] Clinical recommendations advocate using stimulant laxatives, such assenna orbisacodyl, in both adults and children if symptoms are still present.[14][16]
A number of novel therapeutic treatments have been suggested and licensed in recent years for the treatment of functional constipation.[13] Prosecretory drugs includingplecanatide,linaclotide, andlubiprostone alter gut epithelial channels, encouraging intestinal fluid secretion and increasing stool volume, which improves GI transit.[17] Functional constipation has been treated with a variety of 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 (5-HT4) agonists.[13]Serotonin (5-HT) is an enteric and centralneurotransmitter that binds to the gut's5-HT4 receptors to boostacetylcholine release, which in turn increases secretion and motility of the gut.[18] Additionally, serotonin promotes motility by stimulating the mucosa's afferent neurons, which in turn triggers thegastrocolic reflex.[19]
A 2014 meta-analysis of three small trials evaluatingprobiotics showed a slight improvement in management of chronic idiopathic constipation, but well-designed studies are necessary to know the true efficacy of probiotics in treating this condition.[20]
Children with functional constipation often claim to lack the sensation of the urge to defecate, and may be conditioned to avoid doing so due to a previous painful experience.[21] One retrospective study showed that these children did indeed have the urge to defecate usingcolonic manometry, and suggested behavioral modification as a treatment for functional constipation.[22]