PaediatricsEmergency Medicine
Paediatric Constipation
Paediatric Constipation clinical pathway.
Source: NICE; RCPCH — CG99
Step 1 of ~3
info
Assessment
History:
• Stool Frequency: <3 per week
• Consistency: Hard/pellet-like
• Pain: Painful defecation
• Withholding: Avoiding toilet, crossing legs, hiding
• Soiling: Overflow incontinence (encopresis)
• Red Flags: ['Delayed meconium (>48h)', 'Failure to thrive', 'Abdominal distension', 'Leg weakness', 'Abnormal gait', 'Sacral dimple/tuft']
Examination:
• Abdominal palpation (faecal loading)
• Inspection (fissures)
• Neurological (lower limbs, reflexes)
• Spine (tethered cord)
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Lactulose (Paediatric) · Osmotic Laxative — Constipation / Hepatic Encephalopathy
- Senna (Paediatric) · Stimulant Laxative — Constipation in Children
- Methylene Blue · Guanylate Cyclase / Nitric Oxide Pathway Inhibitor
- Melatonin · Melatonin Receptor Agonist
- Sodium phenylbutyrate · Ammonia scavenger (alternative pathway)
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1) · Vitamin K (clotting factor cofactor)
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.