Table 1.

Paediatric Rome III criteria* for childhood constipation

Must include two or more of the following in a child with a
developmental age of least four years
1	Two or fewer defaecations in the toilet per week
2	At least one episode of faecal incontinence per week
3	History of retentive posturing or excessive volitional stool retention
4	History of painful or hard bowel movement
5	Presence of a large faecal mass in the rectum
6	History of large diameter stools that may obstruct the toilet

*Criteria fulfilled at least once per week for at least two months prior to diagnosis, with insufficient criteria for diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.