Gastrointestinal problems in children with autism, developmental delays or typical development

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are frequently reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay (DD).
• The relationship between GI symptoms and behavioral challenges in these populations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence of GI symptoms in children with ASD, DD, and typical development (TD).
• To examine the association between frequent GI symptoms and aberrant behaviors in children with ASD.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 960 children in the CHildhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment (CHARGE) study.
• Collected GI symptom frequencies and Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) subscale scores.
• Compared GI symptom prevalence across ASD, DD, and TD groups, and analyzed ABC scores in ASD children based on GI symptom frequency.

Main Results:

• Children with ASD and DD were significantly more likely to experience frequent GI symptoms compared to TD children (ASD: aOR 7.92; DD: aOR 4.55).
• Within the ASD group, frequent GI symptoms (abdominal pain, gaseousness, diarrhea, constipation, pain on stooling) were associated with higher scores on irritability, social withdrawal, stereotypy, and hyperactivity.

Conclusions:

• Frequent GI problems are more common in children with ASD and DD than in TD children.
• A correlation exists between GI issues and maladaptive behaviors in children with ASD, highlighting the need for integrated clinical attention.