Functionele gastro-intestinale ziektebeelden op de kinderleeftijd. II. Obstipatie en solitaire encopresis; fysiologie en pathofysiologie

- The childhood prevalences of constipation and encopresis are 0.3-8 and 1-3 respectively.

- Following a recent stricter definition and classification, constipation and solitary encopresis are now recognised to be two separate entities.

- Constipation is characterised by infrequent defecation, often in combination with involuntary loss of faeces.

- Solitary encopresis most often occurs once a day after school hours.

- When there is no defecation, the frequency of encopresis increases, the abdominal pain becomes more severe and the appetite becomes less, until a large quantity of faeces is produced (often once per week).

- The physiology of the defecation and continence mechanism is complex and has only been unravelled in part.

- The multiple physiological mechanisms involved have a complementary and compensatory effect on each other. This makes it difficult to determine the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of these functional disorders.