Esther A H Kramer1, Jolanda H den Hertog-Kuijl1, Leonard M C L van den Broek2, Ellen van Leengoed1, Anneke M W Bulk3, C M Frank Kneepkens4, Marc A Benninga5. 1. Jeugdgezondheidszorg, Stichting Thuiszorg Midden-Gelderland, Bemmel, The Netherlands. 2. Jeugdgezondheidszorg, GGD Kennemerland, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Youth Health Care, EMGO-institute VU University Medical Centre, EMGO-institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Emma Children's Hospital AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Data regarding prevalence and natural history of infant dyschezia, defined by the Rome III criteria as straining and crying for at least 10 min before successful passage of soft stools, are lacking. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate prevalence and natural history of infant dyschezia. STUDY DESIGN: In 2003, 124 youth healthcare doctors participated in a national study on defecation patterns of infants. Using standardised questionnaires and bowel diaries, these were recorded of infants aged 1, 3 and 9 months old. RESULTS: Out of 1292 infants, 46.4% had no gastrointestinal complaints. At 1 and 3 months old, 3.9% and 0.9% infants, respectively, fulfilled the Rome III criteria for infant dyschezia. However, at the same time points, parents of 17.3% and 6.5% of infants, respectively, reported symptoms preceding defecation while not strictly fulfilling the Rome III criteria ('modified Rome III criteria'). Dyschezia-like symptoms (Rome III criteria) were also reported in 0.9% of 9-month-old infants, with 5.7% having symptoms (modified Rome III criteria). Only 3/61 (4.9%) Rome III dyschezia infants and 1/306 (0.3%) infants with modified Rome III criteria at 1 or 3 months had symptoms fitting the diagnosis of infant functional constipation at 9 months old. CONCLUSIONS: The present definition of infant dyschezia seems too strict. We propose to widen the definition in terms of symptoms as well as age in order to better fit the appreciation of the parents. The prevalence of infant dyschezia declines with age. There seems to be no relation to the development of functional constipation. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
INTRODUCTION: Data regarding prevalence and natural history of infantdyschezia, defined by the Rome III criteria as straining and crying for at least 10 min before successful passage of soft stools, are lacking. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate prevalence and natural history of infantdyschezia. STUDY DESIGN: In 2003, 124 youth healthcare doctors participated in a national study on defecation patterns of infants. Using standardised questionnaires and bowel diaries, these were recorded of infants aged 1, 3 and 9 months old. RESULTS: Out of 1292 infants, 46.4% had no gastrointestinal complaints. At 1 and 3 months old, 3.9% and 0.9% infants, respectively, fulfilled the Rome III criteria for infantdyschezia. However, at the same time points, parents of 17.3% and 6.5% of infants, respectively, reported symptoms preceding defecation while not strictly fulfilling the Rome III criteria ('modified Rome III criteria'). Dyschezia-like symptoms (Rome III criteria) were also reported in 0.9% of 9-month-old infants, with 5.7% having symptoms (modified Rome III criteria). Only 3/61 (4.9%) Rome III dyscheziainfants and 1/306 (0.3%) infants with modified Rome III criteria at 1 or 3 months had symptoms fitting the diagnosis of infantfunctional constipation at 9 months old. CONCLUSIONS: The present definition of infantdyschezia seems too strict. We propose to widen the definition in terms of symptoms as well as age in order to better fit the appreciation of the parents. The prevalence of infantdyschezia declines with age. There seems to be no relation to the development of functional constipation. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
Entities:
Keywords:
Comm Child Health; Gastroenterology; General Paediatrics