Author/Authors :
Amiri Zahra نويسنده , Rezaianzadeh Abbas نويسنده Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science , Mani Arash نويسنده , Haghighat Mahmood نويسنده Department of Pediatrics Gastroenterology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , DEHGHANI SEYED MOHSEN نويسنده Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz Transplant Research Center, Nemazee Teaching Hospital, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sci , Safarpour Ali Reza نويسنده Colorectal Research Center, Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; , Ataollahi Maryam نويسنده Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran , Haghighat Rahele نويسنده Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran
Abstract :
[Background]Constipation is one of the most common Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among children. The present study aimed to identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of the children suffering from constipation.[Methods]This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 987 children with constipation in Fars province from March 2015 to March 2016. The study data were collected in the pediatric GI clinic affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, mean, and standard deviation (SD).[Results]More than 40% of the cases who referred to the pediatric GI clinic were suffering from constipation. Totally, 987 [495 females (50.2%) and 492 males (49.8%)] out of the 1000 children with constipation met the inclusion criteria. The remaining 13 children were excluded due to non-functional constipation. The mean age of the children was 4.8 ± 2.8 years (range: 6.9 months to 17.7 years). In addition, the children’s mean age at the beginning of toilet training and defecation control was 1.9 ± 0.5 years (range: 11 months to 5 years) and 2.1 ± 0.6 years (range: 17 months to 8 years), respectively. The mean of daily physical activity was 2.3 ± 3.6 hours and 707 children (71.6%) had less than one hour of daily physical activity. In addition, 54.2% and 13.9% of the children watched TV and used computer games for more than 3 hours a day, respectively. Finally, 57.5% and 48.3% of the children reported a low consumption of vegetables and grains per week, respectively. Furthermore, having constipation for more than six months was associated with the age of onset of constipation less than two years (P = 0.003). Watching television was reported in 600 (69.7%) children with more than six months constipation (P < 0.001).[Conclusions]More than 40% of the cases who referred to the pediatric GI clinic were suffering from constipation. Furthermore, having constipation for more than six months was associated with the age of onset of constipation and watching television habits.
