Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellow University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine Miami, Florida, United States
Background: Disorders of Gut- Brain Interactions (DGBI) including those with predominance of abdominal pain, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD) are associated with poor quality of life. Studies have estimated the prevalence of IBS to range between 6% and 14% in school-age children and between 22.0% and 35.5% in adolescents. The biopsychosocial model explains the pathophysiology of DGBIs as an alteration in the relationship between the brain-gut axis, due to genetic or environmental factors and early life events that affect the physiology of the central and peripheral nervous system. Gastrointestinal infections are the most common identifiable event predisposing to the development of DGBIs but there are few studies in children identifying these risk factors. There is also paucity of data on the severity of AGE in children with previous DGBIs. The overarching aim of this study is to better help understand the risk factors, course and long-term implication of AGE in children with and without DGBIs. Objective: Identify the risk factors that predispose to the incidence of post-infectious disorders of brain-gut interaction (PI-DGBIs) following an episode of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Secondly, in patients with history of DGBIs, assess the severity of abdominal pain at the time of an episode of AGE and at follow-up. Design/Methods: This is a prospective, controlled, cohort study. After obtaining IRB, we identified patients who were consulted for a diagnosis of AGE at the University of Miami Pediatric Clinic. We used 3 groups of children: Group A- Children with existing diagnosis of FD and/or IBS; B- Children without a diagnosis of IBS and/or FD at the time of consultation and Group C- siblings of children of group A and B that will serve as controls. Case and controls complete questionnaires at the time of the initial phone contact with the research team and at time of follow up over the phone at 10 days, 3 and 6 months. Questionnaires include a survey to assess duration and severity of symptoms and validated Rome Criteria to diagnose DGBIs.
