Paediatric constipation a hard one to budge

GPs may need to be more aware of paediatric constipation, says a leading gastroenterologist who is concerned the condition is unnecessarily filling emergency rooms.

“If we could better treat some of these patients in the primary setting, we would free up emergency department resources and hospital resources,” says Dr Bridget Southwell from Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

As a first line of treatment, doctors in primary care should be encouraging patients to increase soluble fibre consumption, drink plenty of water and be wary of