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Influence of Family History on Children With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Yinan Fu1, Ron Thomas2, Kristen Cares3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|February 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children with a family history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) show no differences in typical IBS symptoms or treatments. However, they are more likely to experience psychological comorbidities and receive mental health interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Child Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in children.
  • The role of family history in the development and presentation of pediatric IBS remains unclear.
  • Understanding familial influences can aid in diagnosis and management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical characteristics and management of pediatric IBS patients with a family history of IBS (FH-IBS) compared to those without.
  • To identify potential differences in comorbidities and treatment approaches based on family history.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study design.
  • Inclusion of 251 children diagnosed with IBS.
  • Comparison of clinical profiles, dietary modifications, medication use, and psychological comorbidities between FH-IBS and non-FH-IBS groups.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were found in sex, age at diagnosis, dietary changes, or use of common IBS medications (laxatives, antispasmodics, etc.) between the groups.
  • Children with FH-IBS demonstrated a higher prevalence of psychological comorbidities (41% vs 23%, P=0.003).
  • Patients with FH-IBS were more likely to receive psychological counseling (49% vs 23%, P<0.001) and antidepressant treatment (36% vs 15%, P<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • A family history of IBS in children is associated with a greater likelihood of psychological comorbidities.
  • Children with FH-IBS may benefit from integrated psychological assessment and intervention alongside gastrointestinal care.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms linking family history, psychological factors, and IBS in pediatric populations.

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