S1269 Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in a Children Population Affected By Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition characterized by abnormally high bacterial population level in the small intestine, exceeding 106 organisms/ ml. Recent data suggest that SIBO could play a role in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults. Few studies are actually available assessing the prevalence of SIBO in children and no data exist about SIBO prevalence in children affected by IBS. Aim: Aim of our study was to assess SIBO prevalence in IBS children with respect to healthy controls. Methods: Fortythree consecutive IBS children according to Rome II criteria were enrolled (17 males/26 females, mean age 9,5 years). Eleven patients (25%) were classified as post-infectious IBS (PI-IBS) on the basis of clinical history. The control population accounted of 56 sex and age matched healthy children (22 males/34 females, mean age 10 years). SIBO diagnosis was based on lactulose breath test (LBT) positivity according standard criteria (two distinct peaks, consisting of two consecutive H2 values >10 p.p.m. above the basal value after 10 g lactulose ingestion). Results: LBT positivity was found in 56% of IBS children (24/43) with respect to 15% of healthy controls (10/56). The difference between the two groups resulted to be statistically significant (p< 0.01). SIBO prevalence was similar between PIIBS and non PI-IBS patients (p= n.s.). Conclusions: This is the first case-control study testing SIBO prevalence in IBS children. Our results seem to suggest a significant association between SIBO and IBS. Further researches are needed to confirm this findings and evaluate the role of SIBO decontamination on IBS symptoms.