Constipation is a very common problem which, according to NICE, affects 10-20% of children in the UK at any given time. For hospitals, constipation accounts for up to 5% of all referrals to general paediatricians.
To understand how constipation arises, we need to first appreciate how quickly digested food should move through the colon. In children, the number of days from ingestion to output varies widely. Some children go 3 times per day. Others go three times per week. Here is the expert definition of constipation.
However, what matters to parents and children is identify is the frequency and consistency of motions that allows a child to remain clean and comfortable.
How does CTMS help you?
Colonic transit markers studies (CTMS) can help us demonstrate whether to problem is a slow bowel or a bowel that cannot empty. Clarifying this makes a difference to treatment approaches.
A slow bowel needs treatments to improve the consistency of stool and help the bowel move faster, with better coordination. GP’s and paediatricians are best placed to support families.
A bowel that cannot empty may need emptying manouvres. This often involves tubes and washing out. Paediatric surgeons are best placed to support families facing this issue.
CTMS is one of the best ways to understand the kind of constipation a child is dealing with.