During 1980-1985, 304 children with functional megacolon were examined. Group I was made up of 95 patients with chronic constipation; group II of 130 patients with associated megacolon and encopresis; group III of 54 patients who mainly complained of abdominal pain (the mean age was 5.2, 7.5 and 8.8 years, respectively); group IV included 25 children (19.6%) with megacolon recognized from the group of 127 patients in whom acute appendicitis was excluded according to irrigoscopy. In the children of the first 3 groups, the x-ray signs of colitis or irritated colon were identified in 54, 72 and 87%, respectively. These groups may in fact illustrate the natural time-course of changes in the disease development. It has been demonstrated that with age functional megacolon may be aggravated by colitis. A pathogenetic diagram of the development of functional megacolon is provided.
1980年至1985年期间，对304例功能性巨结肠患儿进行了检查。第一组由95例慢性便秘患者组成；第二组由130例伴有巨结肠和大便失禁的患者组成；第三组由54例主要主诉腹痛的患者组成（平均年龄分别为5.2岁、7.5岁和8.8岁）；第四组包括25名儿童（占19.6%），他们是从127例经灌肠造影排除急性阑尾炎的患者中确诊为巨结肠的。在前3组儿童中，分别有54%、72%和87%的患儿出现结肠炎或结肠激惹的X线征象。这些组实际上可能说明了疾病发展变化的自然病程。已经证明，随着年龄的增长，功能性巨结肠可能会因结肠炎而加重。文中提供了功能性巨结肠发展的发病机制图。
