Do Children Just Grow Out of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: Few data exist on natural history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children; therefore we investigated symptoms evolution over time in a cohort of children with IBS. STUDY DESIGN: In this observational, single-center study, we prospectively enrolled newly diagnosed children with IBS and reassessed them after 24 months. At both time points, patients completed a symptoms questionnaire, and a score of stool consistency was obtained. The therapeutic strategy adopted was also recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-three children (age 11 years, range, 4-16.6 years; 53 males) completed the study. Forty-seven (56.6%) patients received no medical treatment, whereas polyethylene glycol, probiotics, and trimebutine were prescribed to 9 (10.8%), 24 (28.9%), and 3 (3.6%) subjects, respectively. Twenty-four months after diagnosis, 48 children (57.8%) reported resolution of symptoms (P <.001), without differences between sexes (P = .35) or among IBS subtypes (P = .49). Of these, 30 (62.5%) had been only reassured and 18 (37.5%) had been prescribed medical treatment (P = .26). Despite not being statistically significant, symptoms resolution was more common in patients receiving no medical treatment than in those receiving probiotics (63.8% vs 41.6%, P = .08). Among patients with constipation-IBS, no difference was found in symptoms resolution between patients receiving polyethylene glycol and those receiving no medical treatment (67% and 40%, respectively, P = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Children with IBS are likely to show spontaneous symptoms resolution over a 24-month follow-up, regardless of sex, age, impact of symptoms on daily activities, and IBS subtypes.

Stool consistency, but not frequency, correlates with total gastrointestinal transit time in children.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation between stool characteristics (consistency and frequency) and gut transit time in children and to determine whether the Bristol Stool Form Scale is a reliable method of assessing intestinal transit rate in children. STUDY DESIGN: From March 2011 to March 2012, 44 children (25 boys and 19 girls, mean age 7.8 years) with a diagnosis of functional constipation and 36 healthy, nonconstipated children (17 boys and 19 girls, mean age 7.6 years) were enrolled. All participants maintained a 1-week stool diary, recording the time and date of every bowel movement and stool form, and then completed a validated questionnaire on functional constipation according to Rome III criteria. Whole gut transit time (WGTT) was then assessed using the radiopaque markers test. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between stool form and WGTT in both constipated and nonconstipated children (correlation coefficient -0.84, P<.001). By contrast, there was no correlation between either stool frequency and WGTT or stool frequency and stool form. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, using WGTT as a dependent variable, showed that the sole variable significantly associated with WGTT was stool form (regression coefficient 2.9, OR 18.4, 95% CI 5.4-62.5, P<.001). CONCLUSION: In this prospective, observational, case-control study, we show that stool form, as measured by the Bristol Stool Form Scale, rather than stool frequency, correlates with WGTT in both constipated and nonconstipated children.

Helicobacter pylori chronic gastritis in children: to eradicate or not to eradicate?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of triple eradication therapy versus symptomatic therapy in children with Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic active gastritis (H pylori-ACAG). STUDY DESIGN: Symptomatic patients with H pylori-ACAG (n=31) were randomly assigned into two groups: (1) patients infected with H pylori who were treated with triple eradication therapy (n = 16); and (2) patients infected with H pylori who were treated with symptomatic therapy (n=15). RESULTS: After 1 year of follow-up, macroscopic appearance was significantly different in group B (P=.023), and chronic inflammation, H Pylori density, and activity were significantly higher in group B than in group A (P=.022, .007, and .002, respectively); however, we did not find a significant difference in the symptoms comparing both groups (P=.287). After 1 year of follow-up, we observed the persistence of the H pylori infection in all children who had not received eradication treatment. CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between eradication of H pylori infection and improvement of dyspeptic symptoms. Self-eradication does not occur within 1 year of follow-up. A trend toward a higher rate of chronic inflammation in noneradicated children at 1 year limited the time of our study.

Lactobacillus reuteri (DSM 17938) in infants with functional chronic constipation: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus reuteri (DSM 17938) in infants with functional chronic constipation. STUDY DESIGN: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study was conducted from January 2008 to December 2008 in 44 consecutive infants at least 6 months old (mean age+/-SD, 8.2+/-2.4 SD; male/female, 24/20) admitted to the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Motility Unit of the Department of Pediatrics, University "Federico II" of Naples, with a diagnosis of functional chronic constipation. The 44 infants with chronic constipation were randomly assigned to 2 groups: group A (n=22) received supplementation with the probiotic L reuteri (DSM 17938) and group B (n=22) received an identical placebo. Primary outcome measures were frequency of bowel movements per week, stool consistency, and presence of inconsolable crying episodes, recorded in a daily diary by parents. RESULTS: Infants receiving L reuteri (DSM 17938) had a significantly higher frequency of bowel movements than infants receiving a placebo at week 2 (P=.042), week 4 (P=.008), and week 8 (P=.027) of supplementation. In the L reuteri group, the stool consistency was reported as hard in 19 infants (86.4%) at baseline, in 11 infants (50%) at week 2, and in 4 infants (18.2%) at weeks 4 and 8. However, there was no significant difference between L reuteri and placebo groups in the stool consistency at all weeks (P=.63, week 2; P=.38, week 4; P=.48, week 8). Similarly, there was no statistically difference in the 2 groups in the presence of inconsolable crying episodes. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of L reuteri (DSM 17938) in infants with chronic constipation had a positive effect on bowel frequency, even when there was no improvement in stool consistency and episodes of inconsolable crying episodes. Because of their safety profile, probiotics may be an attractive option in the treatment of functional constipation.

Impact of Clostridium difficile infection on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of and explore possible differences in the risk for and symptoms of Clostridium difficile infection between patients with and without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). STUDY DESIGN: Stool specimens from subjects with and without IBD were evaluated for the presence of C difficile toxins. Demographic information, diagnosis, anatomic location, disease activity, IBD therapy, hospitalizations, and antibiotic and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) exposures were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 193 specimens were collected from 81 patients with IBD and 112 patients without IBD. The prevalence of C difficile infection was significantly greater in the patients with IBD than in those without IBD (P = .004; chi2 = 0.003; odds ratio = 3.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.5 to 7.6). In the patients with IBD, the prevalence of active disease was significantly greater in the C difficile-infected patients than in the uninfected patients (P < .0001). Colonic involvement was found in all patients with IBD. The specific type of IBD, IBD therapy, and antibiotic and PPI exposures that predisposed patients with IBD to C difficile infection were not identified, whereas hospitalization was significantly more frequent in the patients without IBD (P = .025). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that in children, IBD is associated with an increased prevalence of C difficile infection. The specific risk factors reported in adults were not identified in these children, suggesting the possible involvement of other mechanisms for acquiring the pathogen.