Objective: Diagnostic tests may be needed to exclude organic disease in children with constipation. Constipation may be the presenting symptom of celiac disease. We aimed to determine the characteristics of defecation and the prevalence of celiac disease in children with functional constipation.

Material and Methods: The medical records of 150 children diagnosed with functional constipation according to Rome III criteria were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: One-hundred and fifty children [74 girls (49.3%)], with a mean age of 6.5 ± 4.2 years, had a history of constipation for a median duration of 24 months. The mean presentation age of constipation was 3.6 ± 3.7 years. Children with painful defecation were younger than the others (3.1 ± 3.4 years, vs. 5 ± 4.3 years, respectively, p= 0.018). Children with large and firm stools (7.7 ± 4.3 years) were older than children with pebble stone like stools (5.2 ± 4.2 years) and children with both large and pebble stone like stools (5 ± 3.5 years) (p = 0.002, p = 0,003, respectively). Painful defecation, rectal bleeding and encopresis were more frequent in children with stool holding behaviour (p = 0.034, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). History of urinary tract infection was more frequent in older children and girls (36 girls, 67.9%) (p = 0.008, p = 0.001, respectively). One (0.65%) patient who had tissue transglutaminase IgA positivity was diagnosed as celiac disease with small bowel biopsy.

Conclusion: Celiac disease was not found more frequent in children with functional constipation

Keywords: Children, Celiac disease, Constipation