Irritable bowel syndrome in children: Current knowledge, challenges and opportunities

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent and burdensome pediatric gastrointestinal disorder with increasing incidence.
• Diagnostic criteria for pediatric IBS have evolved, presenting challenges due to cultural variations in symptom interpretation.
• The exact etiology of pediatric IBS remains unclear, with limited effective therapeutic options derived from adult studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of pediatric IBS, including diagnostic challenges and treatment limitations.
• To explore emerging models for understanding IBS pathophysiology and guide future research.
• To highlight the need for integrated treatment approaches and potential prevention strategies for childhood IBS.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of pediatric IBS prevalence, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment.
• Analysis of evolving diagnostic criteria and cultural influences on symptom reporting.
• Examination of current and proposed therapeutic modalities, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

Main Results:

• Pediatric IBS presents significant challenges in diagnosis and management, compounded by evolving criteria and a lack of clear etiology.
• Existing treatments, often extrapolated from adult data, show limited efficacy, necessitating novel approaches.
• Newer conceptual models integrating pathophysiology offer a framework for better understanding and managing pediatric IBS.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of pediatric IBS requires addressing diagnostic complexities and the multifactorial nature of the disease.
• Combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies are more promising than single-modality approaches.
• Future research should focus on integrated treatment models and explore potential prevention strategies for childhood IBS.