THE ASSOCIATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION IN THAI CHILDREN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55766/sujst6026Keywords:
Functional Constipation, Malnutrition, Nutritional Status, ObesityAbstract
Pediatric functional constipation is a common issue in general clinics, with malnutrition steadily increasing over the past five years. This study investigated the prevalence of pediatric functional constipation and its relationship with nutritional status in Thai children aged 6 months to 5 years. Among 4,359 patients attending the Well Child Clinic at Suranaree University of Technology Hospital between December 1, 2020, and January 31, 2022, 191 (4.4%) were diagnosed with functional constipation. Of these, 52.9% had normal nutritional status, and 47.1% were malnourished, with 64.4% of the malnourished group being overweight and 13.3% obese. While no significant difference in nutritional status was observed between groups, early introduction of complementary foods before six months was associated with a higher risk of malnutrition (p = 0.02). Inadequate consumption of complementary foods and vegetables was linked to decreased stool frequency (p = 0.03 and 0.029), and insufficient vegetable intake correlated with painful defecation and hard stools (p = 0.018). Children with low vegetable and complementary food intake were more likely to experience severe constipation symptoms, emphasizing the importance of dietary factors in managing pediatric functional constipation.
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