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The early stool patterns of young children with autistic spectrum disorder

B Sandhu1, C Steer, J Golding

  • 1Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|March 31, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) showed similar bowel patterns to peers, with no signs of enterocolitis. A slight increase in stool frequency was noted in ASD children at later ages.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Gastrointestinal Health

Background:

  • Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition.
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) issues are frequently reported in children with ASD.
  • Enterocolitis, a serious inflammation of the intestines, is a potential concern in children with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit bowel symptoms indicative of enterocolitis.
  • To compare the gastrointestinal health of children with ASD to neurotypical children.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort.
  • Analyzed stool patterns and gut symptoms via questionnaires from 12,984 children up to 42 months of age.
  • Compared 78 children with ASD to 12,906 children without ASD.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in stool color, consistency, or common GI symptoms (diarrhea, constipation, bloody stools, abdominal pain) between ASD and control groups in the first 3.5 years.
  • A trend towards increased stool frequency was observed in children with ASD at 30 and 42 months of age.
  • Analysis of classical childhood autism cases yielded similar findings.

Conclusions:

  • Children with ASD generally present with similar stool patterns to their peers during the first 42 months of life.
  • A slight increase in stool frequency at 30 and 42 months was noted in the ASD group.
  • The study found no evidence to support the hypothesis that children with ASD experience enterocolitis.
Abstract

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