Chronic functional constipation in children:diagnosis and prevalence in a low-income community

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of chronic functionalconstipation in children aged under 11 years of a low-incomecommunity in Recife, Northeast Brazil and to assess the validity ofcomplaints of bowel habits for the diagnosis of constipation. METHODS: A community-based survey identified 536 eligiblechildren. Data collection was home-based through a structuredquestionnaire applied to the mothers. The definition of chronicfunctional constipation was based on painful defecation or witheffort, with stools of hard consistency and/or frequency of defecationless than three times per week, during at least the last thirty days. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic functional constipation was17.5%. Straining was the complaint which obtained the highestsensitivity for the diagnosis of constipation (96.8%) while pain todefecate obtained the highest specificity (99.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic functional constipation was a prevalentsymptom in this community, pointing out to the need of an activesearch in paediatric consultation. Straining was identified as thesingle complaint which better diagnosed constipation.