Postinfectious functional gastrointestinal disorders in children: a multicenter prospective study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background:

• Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in children.
• The link between acute infectious diarrhea and the subsequent development of FGIDs requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the incidence of postinfectious functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children following acute diarrhea of varying infectious causes.
• To diagnose FGIDs using Rome III criteria.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, multicenter cohort study involving children aged 4-17 with acute diarrhea and confirmed enteric infection.
• Patients were matched with control subjects and evaluated for FGIDs using a validated questionnaire at enrollment and at 3 and 6 months post-infection.

Main Results:

• FGIDs were significantly more prevalent in children with a history of acute diarrhea compared to controls at 1, 3, and 6 months post-infection (RR 1.9-2.2).
• Abdominal pain-related FGIDs were notably more frequent in the exposed group after 6 months (RR 1.7).
• No correlation was found between specific infection etiologies, age, or sex and FGID development.

Conclusions:

• Postinfectious FGIDs represent a distinct clinical entity in children.
• Acute diarrhea significantly increases the risk of developing FGIDs, especially those characterized by abdominal pain, in the months following infection.