The versatility of constipation in children: A clinical case of urinary system infection in a child suffering from constipation

Constipation occupies one of the first places in the structure of the general morbidity. Unfortunately, there are no clear statistics on the indicator. The reasons are different: the multiplicity of constipation, the absence of columns in the official tables of morbidity reporting by healthcare institutions, insufficient vigilance among pediatricians / narrow specialists, the silence of parents and patients about such a delicate topic. In general, the incidence of constipation in the world is almost the same-from 16 to 37% among school-age children. This disease has been known since ancient times. Thus, Hippocrates, Avicenna, and Paracelsus pointed out in their writings constipation as one of the causes of internal diseases. In 1929, Evans formulated the definition of constipation, which is close to the concept according to the Roman criteria. Children of the 21st century have quite a lot of risks for the development of constipation, and this is determined primarily by changes in the macro and microsociety, lifestyle, physical inactivity, stressful situations, the consequences of viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, violations of the rules and procedures for applying the principles of dietetics in pediatrics, somatic diseases, etc. The quality of life of such patients is comparable to that of patients with diabetes, hypertension, and depression. Today, specialists are assisted by a number of documents that define the concept, criteria for verifying the diagnosis, tactics for managing and preventing constipation. The research results of foreign and domestic scientists indicate that stimulants are effective and safe for the treatment of functional constipation, including in children’s practice. One of the drugs in this group is sodium picosulfate. A case from practice is given when untreated constipation caused a child to develop a urinary tract infection with pronounced activity.

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