Patel et al identified risk factors for short term persistence of symptoms in children who presented to the Emergency Department with constipation. A child at risk for persistent symptoms might benefit from more comprehensive management. The authors are from the Montreal Children's Hospital and University of Montreal.
69% of children failed to resolve at 48 hours and 25% failed to resolve by 7 days after evaluation.
Risk factors for short term persistence of symptoms:
(1) female sex
(2) history of recurrent abdominal pain
(3) duration of primary presenting symptom > 2 days
(4) history of medical visits for the same symptom
Risk Factor
Odds Ratio
95% CI
female
2.6
1.0 – 6.6
history of recurrent abdominal pain
2.8
1.2 – 6.5
duration > 2 days
2.4
1.0 – 6.4
history of medical visits
2.3
1.0 – 5.3
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
