Adult Constipation – Diagnosis & Evaluation
Constipation in adults is defined as fewer than this number of bowel movements per week.
What is fewer than 3 bowel movements per week?
First-line pharmacologic therapy for chronic constipation includes fiber and this class of laxatives.
What are osmotic laxatives?
The most common cause of constipation in children, accounting for ~95% of cases.
What is functional constipation?
Acute diarrhea is defined as ≥3 loose stools per day lasting less than this duration.
What is less than 14 days?
The most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children in industrialized countries.
What are viruses?
These criteria are used to diagnose primary constipation in adults based on symptoms alone.
What are the Rome IV criteria?
This osmotic laxative is preferred over lactulose due to better efficacy and fewer adverse effects.
What is polyethylene glycol (Miralax)?
The diagnostic criteria used to diagnose functional constipation in children.
What are the Rome IV criteria?
Diarrhea with blood or mucus is classified as this type.
What is inflammatory diarrhea?
This is the first-line treatment for mild to moderate dehydration in children.
What is oral rehydration therapy?
Name two alarm symptoms in constipation that warrant colonoscopy.
What are weight loss, rectal bleeding, anemia, change in stool caliber, or fatigue?
This therapy is superior to laxatives for defecatory (pelvic floor) dysfunction.
What is pelvic floor biofeedback therapy?
First-line medication for both disimpaction and maintenance therapy in children.
What is polyethylene glycol (Miralax)?
The most common cause of noninflammatory infectious diarrhea in adults.
What is viral infection (e.g., norovirus)?
This medication may be used to reduce vomiting and improve oral rehydration tolerance.
What is ondansetron (Zofran)?
This physical exam maneuver helps identify defecatory disorders and pelvic floor dysfunction.
What is the digital rectal exam?
Name one intestinal secretagogue approved for chronic constipation.
What is linaclotide, lubiprostone, or plecanatide?
Increasing fiber or fluid intake above normal recommendations in children with constipation has this effect.
What is no proven benefit?
Stool testing is indicated in acute diarrhea when symptoms last longer than this duration.
What is 7 days?
Name two red flag signs in pediatric gastroenteritis.
What are bilious vomiting, altered mental status, high fever, or poor perfusion?
In patients without alarm symptoms, routine labs or imaging for constipation are _____.
What are not recommended?
These medications are used specifically for opioid-induced constipation after laxatives fail.
What are PAMORAs (e.g., naloxegol, methylnaltrexone, naldemedine)?
Name one red flag that suggests an organic cause of constipation in a child.
What is delayed meconium passage, failure to thrive, severe abdominal distension, or neurologic abnormality?
Antimotility agents like loperamide should be avoided in this type of diarrhea.
What is inflammatory or bloody diarrhea?
This vaccine significantly reduces hospitalizations and deaths from pediatric gastroenteritis.
What is the rotavirus vaccine?