Examination of competing diagnostic models of functional gastrointestinal disorders related to pain in children.

BACKGROUND: There have been no empirical validations of the Rome III or Rome IV criteria in children. The aim of the current study was to examine whether symptoms naturally occur in a pattern consistent with Rome III and/or Rome IV pediatric criteria for functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 250 children, ages 8-17 years, presenting to an abdominal pain clinic with pain of at least 8 weeks duration. We evaluated patterns of gastrointestinal (GI) and non-gastrointestinal (non-GI) symptoms which had been collected in a standardized fashion as part of routine clinical care. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to compare pre-existing models of symptoms clusters, namely Rome III and Rome IV criteria for IBS and FD in children and adolescents. Factor intercorrelations also were examined to determine whether IBS symptoms and non-GI somatic complaints correlate uniquely with FD symptom clusters. KEY RESULTS: Both models demonstrated good fit with observed data [3-factor: χ2 (101, n=250)110.75, P<.05, TLI=.99, CFI=.99; 4-factor: χ2 (98, n=250)117.54, P<.05, TLI=.96, CFI=.97]. Fit indices and intercorrelations favored the more parsimonious 3-factor solution (3-factor: AIC=4654.91, BIC=4778.17; 4-factor: AIC=4757.16, BIC=4890.97) consistent with pediatric Rome III criteria that conceptualizes FD as a single diagnostic category. FD demonstrated significant overlap with IBS (.42), while non-GI-specific symptoms correlated significantly with FD (.64), but not IBS (.14) symptoms. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: GI symptoms in children presenting for initial evaluation of chronic functional abdominal pain occur in a pattern consistent with Rome III and IV pediatric criteria. Rome III offers a more parsimonious model. The presence of FD symptoms is strongly, and uniquely, associated with non-GI symptoms.

The mediating role of hyperactivity and inattention on sex differences in paediatric injury risk.

BACKGROUND: Extensive research suggests that risk of injury is higher among young boys versus young girls. The present study examined a mediational model to identify mechanisms that may explain differences in injury risk. METHODS: Reports of child behaviour and two indices of injury risk among 114 children in early childhood were obtained from parents in community-based paediatric medical centres. RESULTS: Regression analyses and post-hoc examination of indirect effects supported a mediation model in which the relationship between child sex and child injury risk was explained by hyperactivity and inattention. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions that promote child well-being by targeting constellations of externalizing behaviour problems may simultaneously decrease paediatric injury risk.