Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
An epidemiologic study of irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents and children in China: a school-based study
Liu Dong1, Li Dingguo, Xu Xiaoxing
1Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. liudong7050@sina.com
Objectives:
To explore the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its distribution characteristics of adolescents and children in China and its contributing factors.
Methods:
This study was a stratified, randomized study by clustering samples, which involved 5403 students whose age range was 6 to 18 years from 9 schools, and was conducted in Heilongjiang Province and Shanghai. All students studied were requested to fill in a questionnaire. IBS was diagnosed according to Rome II criteria.
Results:
The prevalence of IBS according to Rome II criteria in adolescents and children in China was 13.25%. The ratio of boys to girls was 1:1.8. There was a higher prevalence (14.02%) of IBS in Heilongjiang province than that (11.72%) in Shanghai. The prevalence in children 12 years and younger was not statistically significantly higher than that of adolescents 13 years and older (11.86% and 11.44%, respectively). The prevalence of IBS in minority students (21.15%) was not statistically significantly higher than that in Han race students (16.08%). Our study indicated that psychological factors, food habit, bad exterior environment, personal habits, and family conditions might be important contributing factors, and exposure to coldness (odds ratio: 2.83) is most prominent.
Conclusion:
IBS was a common disorder in adolescents and children in China. The prevalence of IBS in adolescents and children was different in different geographic areas. Our study indicated that IBS in adolescents and children might have possible relations with psychological factors, food habit, bad exterior environment, and family condition.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...