Constipation in children.

Although constipation is not well defined, when it is brought to the 
attention of a physician, it should raise certain questions. In a 
newborn, is obstipation due to Hirschsprung's disease, meconium ileus, or intermittent 
volvulus? Is obstipation in a child with a mass in the 
cecum due to cystic fibrosis - i.e., meconium ileus equivalent? Has 
the formula been mixed correctly? Does the patient have spinal defects? 
Has the child been on medications? Is the child constipated for 
psychogenic reasons? All of us who deal with children should consider 
all of these entities in each of our patients, so as 
not to miss those several diseases with grave but preventable consequences. 
