How Common is IBS in Children?
A population based study1 of 507 middle school and high school students indicates that 6-14% of the adolescent population note symptoms consistent with IBS. In the study, anxiety and depression scores were significantly higher for students with IBS-type symptoms compared with those without symptoms. Eight percent of all students had seen a physician for abdominal pain in the previous year. These visits were correlated with abdominal pain severity, frequency, duration, and disruption of normal activities; they were not correlated with anxiety, depression, gender, family structure, or ethnicity.
IBS is the second most frequently encountered diagnosis in clinical practice.2 According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), IBS affects 10% to 20% of adults and a similar percentage of children. Symptoms sufficient for a diagnosis of IBS in children were noted in 17% of high school students and 8% of middle school students.3
The NIH states that IBS may be a cause of recurring abdominal pain in children. The diagnosis of IBS is based on having abdominal pain or discomfort plus any two of the following:
- The pain is relieved by having a bowel movement
- The onset of pain is associated with a change in the frequency of stools
- The onset of pain is associated with a change in stool consistency
The symptoms must be present for at least 12 weeks in the preceding 12 months, and there should be no diseases that might cause the symptoms.
The NIH also states that in children and adolescents, IBS affects girls and boys equally and may be diarrhea-predominant, constipation-predominant, or have a variable stool pattern.
Children with IBS may also have headache, nausea, or mucus in the stool. Weight loss may occur if a child eats less to try to avoid pain. Some children first develop symptoms after a stressful event, such as teething, a bout with the flu, or problems at school or at home. Stress does not cause IBS, but it can trigger symptoms.
To diagnose IBS, the doctor will ask questions about symptoms and examine the child to rule out more serious problems or diseases. IBS is not a disease—it is a syndrome, or group of symptoms that occur together. It does not damage the intestine, so if the physical exam and other tests show no sign of disease or damage, the doctor may diagnose IBS.
Seek Professional Help for IBS
It is very important to find a healthcare professional who is well-informed about how to treat IBS and who will be supportive in providing guidance that helps patients cope with long-term IBS management issues and lifestyle modifications.
1) Hyams, JS, Burke, G, Davis, PM, Rzepski, B, Andrulonis, PA. Abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents: a community-based study. J Pediatr 1996 Aug;129(2): 220-6
2) Engstrom, PF, Goosenberg, EB. Diagnosis and Management of Bowel Diseases, First Edition, 1999; 2: 64.
3) Hyams, JS, Burke, G, Davis, PM, Rzepski, B, Andrulonis, PA. Abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents: a community-based study. J Pediatr 1996 Aug;129(2): 220-6
