Regional and seasonal variations in functional abdominal pain and functional constipation prevalence among Saudi children.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate functional abdominal pain disorders and functional constipation prevalence in the central region of Saudi Arabia, and compare it to that of the western region. This was a cross-sectional study using online questionnaires targeting the general population of Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects were randomly selected by sharing links on social media groups. Any parent with a 3-18-year-old child was included, and children with chronic medical illnesses or symptoms of organic GI disorders were excluded. Three hundred nineteen subjects were included in the final analysis; the prevalence of functional abdominal pain disorders overall was 6.2% and the prevalence of functional constipation was 8.1%. Functional constipation diagnosis seems to be affected by life stressors or a previous viral illness. Seasonal variations had minimal effect on functional abdominal pain disorder and functional constipation symptom frequency and severity.