Original ArticleFunctional Defecation Disorders in Children: Comparing the Rome II with the Rome III Criteria
Section snippets
Methods
The study consisted of a retrospective chart review. No consent was needed as the questionnaire, physical examination, and diary were part of the standard workup as per the established department protocol.
Between January 2007 and December 2009, otherwise healthy children (0-18 years old) with complaints of constipation and/or FI were referred by general practitioners, school physicians, and pediatricians to the outpatient clinic of a tertiary academic hospital. Children with systemic diseases
Results
Over a 3-year period, 336 consecutive patients (61% boys, mean ± SD age 6.3 ± 3.5 years) referred for evaluation of a functional defecation disorder were included in this study. Clinical characteristics and symptoms of all patients are shown in Table I. FI and retentive posturing behavior were the most prevalent symptoms (both 75%), followed by pain during defecation (60%). The number of FI episodes varied from 0-45 times per week. Abdominal pain was present in 75% of all patients, with 68% of
Discussion
Our study shows that FC is recognized and diagnosed more frequently by using the “new” Rome III criteria compared with the “old” Rome II criteria. Because the only change from Rome II to Rome III criteria with respect to FNRFI included the decrease from 3 to 2 months in required symptom duration, there was no difference in recognition of this entity using the new and old criteria.
In accordance with a study by Boccia et al,12 which showed a greater applicability of the PACCT criteria (which
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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.