Abstract
Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms in children. Chronic constipation is defined when symptoms are present for more than 3 months. The key feature required for the diagnosis is reduced stool frequency, which must be evaluated comparing with age-related normal patterns of defecation frequency. The two main causes of chronic constipation in children are functional constipation and organic disease. History and physical examination should be able to recognize the few children who are at risk of having a serious disorder and that must undergo additional studies.
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Pession, A., Leardini, D., Muratore, E., Masetti, R. (2022). Chronic Constipation in Pediatrics: Pathophysiology and Diagnosis. In: Lima, M., Ruggeri, G. (eds) Ano-Rectal Endosonography and Manometry in Paediatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97668-2_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97668-2_10
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