Osmotic laxative versus stimulant laxative in the management of childhood functional constipation

Areen Sarteep  Fattah; Zaher Tahir  Mousheer

doi:10.56056/amj.2020.111

Authors

Areen Sarteep Fattah KHCMS trainee, Rapareen teaching hospital, Erbil, Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Zaher Tahir Mousheer Consultant pediatrist, C.A.B.P, Rapareen teaching hospital, Erbil, Kurdistan region of Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56056/amj.2020.111

Keywords:

Abdominal pain, Functional constipation, Osmotic laxative, Stimulant laxative

Abstract

Background and objectives: Constipation within children is an extremely common problem. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of osmotic and stimulant laxative used to treat functional constipation in children.

Methods:This interventional clinical study was conducted between August 2018 till February 2019; at Rapareen Pediatrics Teaching Hospital, in Erbil governorate. One hundred cases, between one to five years of age, were collected. All patients were suffering from functional constipation and fulfilled 2-3 ROME IV criteria. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: one group received osmotic laxatives and the other group received stimulant laxatives. Patients were followed up after 8 weeks and 12 weeks from initial visit. Patient`s medication and response to treatment was reported.

Results:The mean age + SD of the stimulant group was 1.98 + 0.90 years, and that of the osmotic group was 2.92 + 1.23 years. Eight weeks after starting treatment, 58% of the patients in the osmotic group had abdominal pain, which was significantly higher than that (36%) of the stimulant group. Significantly higher pro- portion of patients in the osmotic group had increased the dosage of their medications than the stimulant group (40% vs. 20%, respectively). Twelve weeks after the start of the study, the rate of abdominal pain was 34% in the stimulant group and 24% in the osmotic group, but the difference was not significant .

Conclusions:Our current study showed no significant differences between stimulant and osmotic laxatives.

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