[Constipation in childhood--from the pediatric viewpoint].

Chronic constipation is a common problem in paediatric practice. The majority of the toddlers can be successfully treated by conventional therapy. Young infants with constipation or older children with longstanding stool impaction with or without encopresis should be referred to a centre for further diagnostic and therapeutic management. Children with a paradoxical contraction of the external anal sphincter during attempted defecation on anorectal manometry profit form bio-feedback-training by learning a normal defecation pattern.