{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T20:39:54Z","timestamp":1790023194991,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,30]],"date-time":"2022-09-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1664496000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FrieslandCampina AMEA"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The prevalence of functional constipation (FC) among children varies widely. A survey among healthcare professionals (HCPs) was conducted to better understand the HCP-reported prevalence and (nutritional) management of FC in children 12\u201336 months old. Methods: An anonymous e-survey using SurveyMonkey was disseminated via emails or WhatsApp among HCPs in eight countries\/regions. Results: Data from 2199 respondents were analyzed. The majority of the respondents (65.9%) were from Russia, followed by other countries (Indonesia (11.0%), Malaysia (6.0%)), Mexico, KSA (5.1% (5.7%), Turkey (3.0%), Hong Kong (2.2%), Singapore (1.1%)). In total, 80% of the respondents (n = 1759) were pediatricians. The prevalence of FC in toddlers was reported at less than 5% by 43% of the respondents. Overall, 40% of the respondents reported using ROME IV criteria in &gt; 70% of the cases to diagnose FC, while 11% never uses Rome IV. History of painful defecation and defecations &lt; 2 x\/week are the two most important criteria for diagnosing FC. In total, 33% of the respondents reported changing the standard formula to a specific nutritional solution, accompanied by parental reassurance. Conclusion: The most reported prevalence of FC in toddlers in this survey was less than five percent. ROME IV criteria are frequently used for establishing the diagnosis. Nutritional management is preferred over pharmacological treatment in managing FC.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14194067","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,10]],"date-time":"2022-10-10T01:21:07Z","timestamp":1665364867000},"page":"4067","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Reported Prevalence and Nutritional Management of Functional Constipation among Young Children from Healthcare Professionals in Eight Countries across Asia, Europe and Latin America"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Louise Naz","family":"West","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"FrieslandCampina, 3818 LE Amersfoort, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Irina","family":"Zakharova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Russian Medical Academy Continuous Professional Education of the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, Moscow 125993, Russia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Koen","family":"Huysentruyt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UZ Brussel, KidZ Health Castle, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2098-2270","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sze-Yee","family":"Chong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh 30450, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marion M.","family":"Aw","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore"},{"name":"Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children\u2019s Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119228, Singapore"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5107-5895","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andy","family":"Darma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60131, Indonesia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Badriul","family":"Hegar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ruey Terng","family":"Ng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8434-2109","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammed","family":"Hasosah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah 14611, Saudi Arabia"},{"name":"King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Jeddah 11481, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8701-4189","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Erick","family":"Toro-Monjaraz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit of Physiology and Gastrointestinal Motility, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Department, National Institute of Pediatrics, Mexico 04530, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7344-8637","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Merih","family":"Cetinkaya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neonatology, Health Sciences University, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul 34480, Turkey"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chung-Mo","family":"Chow","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Virtus Medical Group, Hong Kong"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9987-2041","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Leilani","family":"Muhardi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"FrieslandCampina AMEA, Singapore 039190, Singapore"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Urszula","family":"Kudla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"FrieslandCampina, 3818 LE Amersfoort, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dianne J. M.","family":"Delsing","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"FrieslandCampina, 3818 LE Amersfoort, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1862-8651","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yvan","family":"Vandenplas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UZ Brussel, KidZ Health Castle, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5223\/pghn.2017.20.1.1","article-title":"The New Rome IV Criteria for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Infants and Toddlers","volume":"20","author":"Zeevenhooven","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"778747","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2021.778747","article-title":"A Narrative Review on the Update in the Prevalence of Infantile Colic, Regurgitation, and Constipation in Young Children: Implications of the ROME IV Criteria","volume":"9","author":"Muhardi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12887-021-02610-6","article-title":"Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in infants and young children in China","volume":"21","author":"Huang","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2333794X211022265","DOI":"10.1177\/2333794X211022265","article-title":"The Effect of Using Rome IV Criteria on the Prevalence of Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders and Functional Constipation among Children of the Western Region of Saudi Arabia","volume":"8","author":"Khayat","year":"2021","journal-title":"Glob. Pediatr. Health"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pedneo.2020.08.009","article-title":"Low prevalence of infantile functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in a multi-ethnic Asian population","volume":"62","author":"Chew","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pediatr. Neonatol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2443","DOI":"10.1007\/s00431-021-04059-2","article-title":"The frequency of and factors affecting functional gastrointestinal disorders in infants that presented to tertiary care hospitals","volume":"180","author":"Beser","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur. J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Chia, L.W., Nguyen, T.V.H., Phan, V.N., Luu, T.T.N., Nguyen, G.K., Tan, S.Y., Rajindrajith, S., and Benninga, M.A. (2022, August 16). Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in Vietnam, Available online: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9137065\/."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1175","DOI":"10.21474\/IJAR01\/5170","article-title":"Prevalence and factors associated with functional constipation among children attending well baby clinic in Aladel Primary Healthcare center in Makkalh Al-Mukarramah","volume":"5","author":"AlGhamdi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Adv. Res."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Surowiecki, J. (2004). The Wisdom of Crowds, DoubleDay."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1542\/pir.2018-0334","article-title":"Constipation","volume":"41","author":"LeLeiko","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2014.09.028","article-title":"Bidirectional Associations between Fussy Eating and Functional Constipation in Preschool Children","volume":"166","author":"Tharner","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"172","article-title":"Toilet training age and influencing factors: A multicenter study","volume":"57","author":"Akarken","year":"2015","journal-title":"Turk. J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Jang, H.-J., Chung, J.-Y., Seo, J.-H., Moon, J.S., Choe, B.-H., and Shim, J.O. (2022, August 16). Nationwide survey for application of ROME IV criteria in Korea, Available online: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6609424\/."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.5409\/wjcp.v7.i1.56","article-title":"Pediatricians lack knowledge for the diagnosis and management of functional constipation in children over 6 mo of age","volume":"7","author":"Widodo","year":"2018","journal-title":"World J. Clin. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"955","DOI":"10.1007\/s00431-011-1515-5","article-title":"Clinical practice: Diagnosis and treatment of functional constipation","volume":"170","author":"Tabbers","year":"2011","journal-title":"Eur. J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"c2585","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.c2585","article-title":"Diagnosis and management of idiopathic childhood constipation: Summary of NICE guidance","volume":"340","author":"Ullman","year":"2010","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.1097\/MPG.0000000000000266","article-title":"Evaluation and treatment of functional constipation in infants and children: Evidence-based recommendations from ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN","volume":"58","author":"Tabbers","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1512","DOI":"10.1111\/apa.14378","article-title":"Review shows that parental reassurance and nutritional advice help to optimise the management of functional gastrointestinal disorders in infants","volume":"107","author":"Salvatore","year":"2018","journal-title":"Acta Paediatr."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1417","DOI":"10.3390\/nu5041417","article-title":"Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits","volume":"5","author":"Slavin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nut.2017.10.010","article-title":"Thickened infant formula: What to know","volume":"49","author":"Salvatore","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nutrition"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Neumer, F., Urraca, O., Alonso, J., Palencia, J., Varea, V., Theis, S., Rodriguez-Palmero, M., Moreno-Mu\u00f1oz, J., Guarner, F., and Veereman, G. (2021). Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Prebiotic Enriched Infant Formula\u2014A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13041276"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"918","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clnu.2013.02.009","article-title":"Safety and efficacy of inulin and oligofructose supplementation in infant formula: Results from a randomized clinical trial","volume":"32","author":"Luque","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"587","DOI":"10.1080\/09637486.2016.1263605","article-title":"The use of inulin-type fructans improves stool consistency in constipated children. A randomised clinical trial: Pilot study","volume":"68","author":"Luque","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Souza, D.D.S., Tahan, S., Weber, T.K., de Araujo-Filho, H.B., and De Morais, M.B. (2018). Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Parallel Clinical Trial Assessing the Effect of Fructooligosaccharides in Infants with Constipation. Nutrients, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu10111602"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.1079\/BJN2003950","article-title":"Effects of fructo-oligosaccharide-supplemented infant cereal: A double-blind, randomized trial","volume":"90","author":"Moore","year":"2003","journal-title":"Br. J. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.1016\/j.earlhumdev.2006.07.003","article-title":"The effect of a fructo-oligosaccharide supplemented formula on gut flora of preterm infants","volume":"83","author":"Kapiki","year":"2007","journal-title":"Early Hum. Dev."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Toporovski, M.S., de Morais, M.B., Abuhab, A., and Crippa J\u00fanior, M.A. (2021). Effect of polydextrose\/fructooligosaccharide mixture on constipation symptoms in children aged 4 to 8 years. Nutrients, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13051634"},{"key":"ref_28","first-page":"1","article-title":"A Prebiotic Formula Improves the Gastrointestinal Bacterial Flora in Toddlers","volume":"2016","author":"Chen","year":"2016","journal-title":"Gastroenterol. Res. Pract."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1186\/s12937-016-0138-0","article-title":"Cow\u2019s milk-based beverage consumption in 1- to 4-year-olds and allergic manifestations: An RCT","volume":"15","author":"Pontes","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nutr. J."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1097\/MPG.0b013e31823a8a4c","article-title":"Stool Pattern Changes in Toddlers Consuming a Follow-on Formula Supplemented With Polydextrose and Galactooligosaccharides","volume":"54","author":"Ribeiro","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"19","article-title":"Medicine and Therapeutics","volume":"8","author":"Levy","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pediatr. Health"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S110","DOI":"10.1097\/00005176-200208002-00008","article-title":"Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Working Group Report of the First World Congress of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition","volume":"35","author":"Hyams","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/14\/19\/4067\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T00:44:16Z","timestamp":1760143456000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/14\/19\/4067"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,30]]},"references-count":32,"journal-issue":{"issue":"19","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,10]]}},"alternative-id":["nu14194067"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu14194067","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,9,30]]}}}