Children with functional constipation often report that they do not feel the urge to defecate. A recent study has used colonic manometry to show that these children are aware of the urge to defecate, but that they misinterpret the sensation as abdominal pain.The researchers analysed data from 56 children who had been diagnosed with functional constipation and denied the urge to defecate. During the manometric test, the first high-amplitude propagating colonic contraction (HAPC) was associated with retentive posturing and facial grimaces. However, when questioned by the examiner the children stated that they felt nothing.
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