The Response Rate to Nutritional- Behavioural Consulting in Children with Chronic Constipation Referring to Pediatric Surgery clinic

Abstract

The aim of present study was to evaluate the response rate to nutritional- behavioural consulting in children with chronic constipation referring to pediatric surgery.

Methods & Materials: In a descriptive-analytical study, 150 children in age 4 to 12 years old with functional constipation based on ROME III criteria who referred to Pediatric Surgery Clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences were included in the study. Patients were followed up for two months after receiving nutritional- behavioural counseling. The response rate to the treatment was compared on the basis of the age and sex of the patients.

Results: The mean age of the children was 54.4±2.64 years old. 132 (88.0%) patients received only counseling treatment and 18 (12.0%) patients received drug treatment along with counseling treatment. At the end of the first month of treatment, the symptoms of the disease were completely or partially improved in 107 (71.33%) children and at the end of the second month, 148 (98.66%) were either completely or partially improved. The mean age of children who at the end of the first month had slightly or partially improved their symptoms was 6.40±2.46 years old and the mean of those who did not have the appropriate treatment outcome was 6.87±2.46 years old. There was no significant correlation between the response to treatment and the mean age of the children (P=0.296).