[Digestive symptoms in young individuals: survey among medical students]

The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency patterns of 8 digestive symptoms and related features, with regard to functional disorders, in young adults. A sample of 279 subjects, representing the student body at the Medical School of Brasília, filled up the self-report questionnaire. From 20% to 27% of subjects reported more than 6 episodes of one more of the following symptoms, within a 12-month period: indigestion, distension, constipation, heartburn, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. A higher prevalence of constipation in women was a significant (p < 0.05) difference between the sexes. Dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were identified by clinical criteria in 25% and 9% of subjects, respectively, while 4% disclosed the occurrence of an organic disease. About 30% of the subjects volunteered perceptions on the meaning of the symptoms, while 22% reported days of restricted activities ascribed to the symptoms. Days of restricted activities were significantly (p < 0.05) related to the number, the type (diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain), and the IBS pattern of symptoms (but not to the dyspepsia pattern). In conclusion, a substantial proportion of subjects in this student group, contacted at the workplace, showed indexes of clinical dysfunction (recurrence of multiple symptoms), and of social dysfunction (days of restricted activity), which indicate persistent limitations on the digestive health status.