الفهرس 
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Abstract
Constipation is common among children, accounting for an estimated 3 to 5 percent of all visits to Pediatricians. Functional constipation is an umbrella term that encompasses a group of disorders associated with difficult, infrequent, or seemingly incomplete defecation without evidence of a structural or biochemical explanation.
Constipation is particularly common at three times in an infant and child’s life: after starting cereal and puréed foods, during toilet training, and after starting school. Parents can help by being aware of these high-risk times, working to prevent constipation, recognizing the problem if it develops, and acting quickly so that constipation does not become a bigger problem.
Functional constipation is not due to a medical problem. It happens when a child withholds stool, usually because they are afraid of the pain linked to passing hard stools or have a fear of the toilet.
Psychosocial factors, such as major life events, may play an important role in the pathophysiology of FC. Furthermore, behavioral disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, are associated with a higher risk of childhood constipation.
The Rome III diagnostic criteria for functional constipation in infant, toddlers, and children
Diagnosis is confirmed when at least two of the following symptoms persist for at least one month:
Constipation is defined as two or fewer bowel movements per week.
At least one episode of soiling per week (in those who are toilet trained)
History of excessive holding of stool
Painful, hard bowel movements
Impacted stool in the rectum
The experience of stools that are so large they may clog the toilet
Although it is common, the complaint should not be ignored because children with functional constipation will benefit from prompt and thorough treatment interventions. Delayed or inadequate intervention may result in stool withholding behavior with worsening constipation and psychosocial consequences.
This was a cross-sectional case control study, conducted in Nutrition, Gastroenterology and outpatients’ clinics, Pediatrics hospital, Ain Shams University.
The study included thirty Egyptian school age children diagnosed as having functional constipation according to Rome III criteria.
The comparison between cases and controls as regard the different food items daily consumption and energy produced by these elements. It was observed that the mean consumption of all studied items; protein, fiber intake, fat, CHO and water, was higher in the control group compared to the cases although the differences were statistically non significant except for the water consumption.
As regard the anthropometric measurements, although the cases had a lower mean in all measurements (except the Triceps skin fold) compared to the control group, however the difference was statistically non significant since p >0.05. The highest % reduction was observed in the mean weight followed by the mean height.
The lower mean consumption of the protein, fibers and fat were observed among cases with hard consistent stool and the higher mean consumption were observed among those with soft stool but the difference was statistically significant only for the fat consumption.