Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in infants and young children in China

Ying Huang,Serene Yaling Tan,Vanitha Buthmanaban,Shaman Rajindrajith,Marc Alexander Benninga,Panam Parikh

doi:10.1186/s12887-021-02610-6

Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children, particularly from Asia, is largely unknown. There are not many studies done in Asia especially using the Rome IV criteria. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of FGIDs in infants and young children in a representative sample in China.MethodsA prospective, cross-sectional, community-based survey was conducted among healthy infants and young children between the ages of 0–4 years in Jinhua and Shanghai, China. A total of 2604 subjects (1300 subjects from Jinhua and 1304 subjects from Shanghai) completed a validated questionnaire on pediatric gastrointestinal symptoms. FGIDs in infants and young children were diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria.ResultsAccording to the Rome IV criteria, the prevalence of having a FGID in Chinese infants and young children is 27.3%. Infant regurgitation (33.9%) was the most common FGID among the 0–6 months old while functional constipation (7.0%) was the most common among the 1–4 years old. Risk factor analysis revealed that prevalence of infantile colic was higher with better maternal education and low birth weight. Prevalence of infantile regurgitation was significantly greater in males, living in a rural area, being exclusively breast fed at least up to 4 months and starting formula feeds within the first month. The risk of functional constipation was lower for infants who were delivered vaginally.ConclusionsInfantile regurgitation was the most common FGID in Chinese infants while functional constipation was most prevalent among young Chinese children.Trial registrationNetherlands Trial Registry Identifier: NL6973/NTR7161.

Highlights

The prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children, from Asia, is largely unknown
Our study found that being male, living in a rural area and consumption of formula feeds between 0 and 1 month increased the risk of infant regurgitation while being exclusively breastfed for 4–6 months reduced the risk by 99% (OR = 0.01, 95%CI = < 0.001–0.09, p = < 0.001)
Our study shows that infants staying in the rural areas had a 44% increased risk of developing infant regurgitation (OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.08–1.93, p = 0.014), which may be due to parental unawareness of the correct feeding position and more persistent beliefs in the traditional health image, secondary to the differences in access to care and provider practices [23,24,25]

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children, from Asia, is largely unknown. Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) in infants and toddlers are a group of disorders with a variable combination of often age-dependent, chronic, recurrent symptoms in the absence of recognized organic pathology [1]. The etiology of these disorders remains uncertain and thought to be due to subtle alteration of the normal development or maladaptive behavioral response to a variety of internal or external stimuli [1]. Infants and young children with FGIDs visit medical professionals more frequently and experience poor quality of life [4, 10], and in early infancy can lead to needless suffering of the caregivers [1]

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