Constipation in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Study on Treatment Options
Introduction
Constipation is a common issue in children with cerebral palsy (CP), affecting 26% to 74% of them. This study looked at how often constipation occurs and how to manage it. We compared two treatments: polyethylene glycol (PEG) and lactulose, and also checked for any serious side effects like intestinal bleeding.
Methods
We conducted a study with 48 children aged 1 to 15 years at Mardani Azar Children’s Hospital over 12 months. We used specific criteria to define constipation and randomly assigned the children into two groups of 24. One group received PEG, while the other received lactulose. We monitored their symptoms and outcomes for one month, then every three months. Success was defined as having bowel movements more than twice a week and experiencing fecal incontinence no more than once a week.
Results
After 12 and 24 weeks, we saw significant improvements in bowel movement frequency and fecal incontinence. The PEG group had a defecation frequency increase from 5.3% to 6.3%, while the lactulose group increased from 5% to 5.7% (p = 0.01). The success rates were 57% for PEG and 33% for lactulose at 12 weeks (p = 0.04), and 62% for PEG versus 37% for lactulose at 24 weeks (p = 0.02). This shows that PEG is a more effective treatment option.
Conclusion
Constipation is a significant concern for children with CP. Our findings suggest that PEG is a more effective treatment compared to lactulose.
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