Abstract

Constipation is a common problem in children, accounting for 3-5% of general pediatric office visits and 25-30% of pediatric gastroenterologist visits.^1,2,3,4 In addition, it has a worldwide prevalence of 3-30%.^2,3 The chronic nature of constipation frequently leads to frustrating experiences for young patients and families as treatment typically requires many months and sometimes years of medication and behavior modification.² In addition, relapse of symptoms is common with 40% of pediatric patients still experiencing symptoms after 6-12 months of laxative use.²

The current case report demonstrates the impact of a somatic dysfunction component on bowel function in a pediatric patient and suggests that somatic dysfunction may be a primary cause of functional constipation in some cases. Following 8 weeks of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), the patient's symptoms resolved, and laxative maintenance medications were discontinued at 12 weeks. This author recommends consideration of osteopathic evaluation and management in addition to other accepted management guidelines in cases of constipation to remove somatic dysfunction components and allow patients’ systems to function optimally.