Anorectal motility abnormalities in children with encopresis and chronic constipation.

Objective: To evaluate the response to rectal distension in children with chronic constipation and children with chronic constipation and encopresis.

Study Design: We studied 27 children, aged 3 to 16 years, with chronic constipation; 12 had encopresis. Anorectal motility was measured with a solid state catheter.

Fructose intolerance in children presenting with abdominal pain.

Objectives: We determined the occurrence of fructose malabsorption in pediatric patients with previous diagnoses of abdominal pain caused by a functional bowel disorder, whether the restriction of fructose intake changes the reporting of symptoms, the role of fructose dosage, and the severity of resultant symptoms.

Patients And Methods: We administered a fructose breath test to children presenting with persistent unexplained abdominal pain. Patients randomly received 1, 15, or 45 g fructose, and breath hydrogen was measured for 3 hours after ingestion.

Biliary dyskinesia in the pediatric patient.

The term biliary dyskinesia commonly describes a motility disorder of the biliary tract that is divided into two main categories: gallbladder dyskinesia (GBD) and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD). SOD is further subdivided into biliary SOD and pancreatic SOD. GBD causes typical biliary colic without gallstones, whereas SOD typically presents with recurrent pancreatitis or chronic abdominal pain, usually after cholecystectomy.