Acupuncture for Children with Functional Constipation

"Children will receive 8 acupuncture sessions during 10 weeks (1 session per week during 6 weeks, followed by 1 session every other week during 4 weeks).~At each acupuncture session, the acupuncturist records the patient's bowel habits, gastrointestinal symptoms and the use of escape medication during the period between sessions. After 3, 6 and 8 acupuncture treatments respectively, patients will visit the research team after they receive acupuncture to evaluate adverse events.~After completion of these 10 weeks, an acupuncture-free follow-up period of 4 weeks commences. The follow-up period will be used to investigate if and how long effects of the intervention will persist. During the intervention period and the follow-up period, escape medication (bisacodyl or enemas) is allowed under the same conditions as during the run-in period."