A Population-Based Study on the Epidemiology of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Young Children

Abstract

Objective: To perform a population-based study with Rome III criteria to describe the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children in Colombia.

Study design: We conducted a multicity cross-sectional study to investigate the epidemiology of FGIDs in children 0-48 months of age using the Rome III criteria in Colombia. Children with organic medical diseases were excluded. Parents provided demographic information and completed the Spanish version of the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms for Infants & Toddlers.

Results: Parents of 1231 subjects completed the questionnaires; 48 children were excluded due to presence of organic diseases and being older than 48 months of age. Four hundred eighty children (40.5%) were diagnosed with at least 1 FGID according to the Rome III diagnostic criteria (49% female, median 12 months). Functional constipation was the most commonly diagnosed disorder in infants (up to 12 months of age) and children of ages 13-48 months (16.1% and 26.8%, respectively). Analysis revealed that the prevalence of FGID was significantly greater in children who were the only child in the family (P = .003), children who were first-born (P = .007), and children with divorced or separated parents. (P = .001).

Conclusions: FGIDs are common in children younger than 4 years of age. Functional constipation and infant colic were the most common FGIDs in infants (up to 12 months of age), and functional constipation and rumination were the most common FGIDs in children 13-48 months of age.

Keywords: Rome III criteria; children; colic; constipation; cyclic vomiting syndrome; functional diarrhea; functional dyschezia; functional gastrointestinal disorders; infants; regurgitation; rumination; toddlers.