儿童便秘是世界范围的常见问题。 在巴西 (28%)、香港 (28.8%)[4]Lee W, Ip K, Chan J, et al. Increased prevalence of constipation in pre-school children is attributable to under-consumption of plant foods: a community-based study. J Paediatr Child Health. 2008 Apr;44(4):170-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17854410?tool=bestpractice.com 以及美国 (23%) 进行了社区调查,报告了高发病率(具体见上述各国所附的百分比),[5]Loening-Baucke V. Prevalence rates for constipation and faecal and urinary incontinence. Arch Dis Child. 2007 Jun;92(6):486-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2066162/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16857698?tool=bestpractice.com 但一项系统的文献综述确定,儿童便秘的患病率为 0.7%-26.9%。[6]van den Berg M, Benninga M, Di Lorenzo C. Epidemiology of childhood constipation: a systematic review. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Oct;101(10):2401-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17032205?tool=bestpractice.com 在美国,平均而言,儿童便秘约占了一个儿科诊所就诊量的 3%,并占每位儿科胃肠病学专科医生工作量的 30%。[7]Borowitz SM, Cox DJ, Kovatchev B, et al. Treatment of childhood constipation by primary care physicians: efficacy and predictors of outcome. Pediatrics. 2005 Apr;115(4):873-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15805358?tool=bestpractice.com 据报道,便秘在美国的患病率正在上升。从 2006 年到 2011 年,在 1-17 岁的儿童中,与便秘相关的急诊就诊量增加了 50.7%。在 2011 年,该年龄组在便秘相关的急诊就诊率中位居第二。[8]Sommers T, Corban C, Sengupta N, et al. Emergency department burden of constipation in the United States from 2006 to 2011. Am J Gastroenterol. 2015 Apr;110(4):572-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25803399?tool=bestpractice.com 年龄在 4.8 岁至 17.5 岁的澳大利亚夜间遗尿症儿童中有 36.1% 患有便秘。[9]McGrath K, Caldwell P, Jones M. The frequency of constipation in children with nocturnal enuresis: a comparison with parental reporting. J Paediatr Child Health. 2008 Jan;44(1-2):19-27.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17854414?tool=bestpractice.com 在意大利儿童中,便秘与过敏无关。[10]Caffarelli C, Coscia A, Baldi F, et al Characterization of irritable bowel syndrome and constipation in children with allergic diseases. Eur J Pediatr. 2007 Dec;166(12):1245-52.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17345097?tool=bestpractice.com