Audit of a pathway for childhood idiopathic constipation.

Constipation is a common condition in developed and industrialised nations. Although its exact prevalence is unknown it is estimated that between five and thirty per cent of the U.K. population suffer with it, depending on the criteria used for diagnosis (Candelli, 2001). Constipation that cannot be explained by any underlying abnormalities is known as idiopathic constipation.