Table 1.

Red Flags: Common symptoms and signs to suggest organic causes of constipation

History	Examination
Failure to thrive	Absent/Brisk lower limb reflexes
Delayed passage of meconium	Mouth ulcers
Abnormal bowel habit since birth	Blood/mucus mixed in with stool
Sensitivity to cold, fatigue, dry skin, pallor	Perianal skin tags or fistulae
Change of bowels with introduction of cow's milk	Associated hypotonia
Weight loss	Fever