Peds

Pediatric Constipation Etiologies

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Pediatric Constipation Etiologies, Pediatric Constipation Causes, Constipation Causes in Children

  • Causes
  • Common
  1. Functional Constipation is most common cause
  2. Infants
    1. Consider maternal medications in Breast fed infants
    2. Cystic Fibrosis
    3. Hirschsprung's Disease (delayed meconium passage >48 hours)
    4. Congenital disorders
    5. Anteriorly displaced anus
  3. Older children
    1. Hypothyroidism
    2. Anorexia
    3. Neuromuscular disorders
  4. References
    1. Claudius in Majoewsky (2012) EM:RAP - C3 2(3):2
  • Causes
  • Dietary
  1. Excessive cows milk
  2. Cow's Milk Protein Intolerance (blood in stool)
  3. Transition from Breast Milk to formula
  4. Transition from strained foods to table foods
  5. Lack of privacy (e.g. start of daycare or school)
  6. Lack of bulk in diet
  7. Under-nutrition
  8. Pediatric Dehydration
  9. Celiac Disease
  10. Vitamin D Toxicity
  • Causes
  • Medications and toxins
  • Causes
  • Structural defects
  1. Duodenal Atresia
  2. Anal stenosis
  3. Imperforate anus
  4. Small colon Syndrome
  5. Intussusception
  6. Volvulus
  7. Malrotation
  8. Presacral Teratoma (or other pelvic mass)
  9. Meconium plug
  10. Rectal Prolapse
  11. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  12. Anteriorly displaced anus
  13. Anal Fissure
  14. Bowel stricture
  1. Scleroderma
  2. Dermatomyositis
  3. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  4. Disordered or absent abdominal musculature
    1. Prune Belly
    2. Gastroschisis
    3. Down Syndrome
  • Causes
  • Abnormal mysenteric Ganglion cells
  1. Aganglionic Megacolon (Hirschprung's Disease)
  2. Chagas' Disease
  3. Von Recklinghausen's Disease
  4. Multiple Endocrine Neoplasm (MEN) Type 2
  5. Internal anal sphincter Achalasia
  6. Neuronal intestinal dysplasia
  7. Visceral Myopathy
  • Causes
  • Spinal Cord defects
  • Causes
  • Infectious conditions
  • Causes
  • Neurologic or Psychiatric Conditions
  1. Myotonic Dystrophy
  2. Amyotonia congenita
  3. Mental Retardation
  4. Psychosis
  5. Prune-Belly Syndrome
  6. Pseudo-obstruction syndrome
  1. Mood Disorder (Major Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
  2. Changes in home (birth of sibling, parents divorce)
  3. Starting at a new school
  4. Toilet Phobia
  5. Sexual abuse