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Intestinal Symptoms Among Children aged 2-7 Years with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 13 Cities of China
Ting Yang1, Qian Zhang1, Li Chen1
1Chongqing Key Laboratory of Childhood Nutrition and Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
Insights
Intestinal symptoms are more common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may worsen core symptoms. This study highlights the link between gut health and autism severity in children.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
- Intestinal symptoms are frequent comorbidities in children with ASD.
- Understanding this link is crucial for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of intestinal symptoms in children with ASD compared to typically developing (TD) children.
- To explore the relationship between intestinal dysfunction and the severity of core ASD symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 1,222 children with ASD and 1,206 TD children aged 2-7 years in China.
- Utilized physical measurements, questionnaires, and standardized scales (CARS, SRS, ABC, 6-GSI).
- Assessed clinical symptoms and gastrointestinal issues in both groups.
Main Results:
- Children with ASD showed significantly higher rates of constipation, stool odor, and overall intestinal symptoms than TD children.
- Autistic children with intestinal issues had more severe scores on ASD symptom scales (ABC, SRS, CARS).
- Intestinal comorbidity appears to exacerbate core symptoms in ASD.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal dysfunction is significantly more prevalent in children with ASD.
- This dysfunction may worsen the core symptoms experienced by children with ASD.
- Highlights the importance of addressing gastrointestinal health in ASD management.
Background:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial, pervasive, neurodevelopmental disorder, of which intestinal symptoms collectively represent one of the most common comorbidities.
Methods:
In this study, 1,222 children with ASD and 1,206 typically developing (TD) children aged 2-7 years were enrolled from 13 cities in China. Physical measurement and basic information questionnaires were conducted in ASD and TD children. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms of children with ASD. The six-item Gastrointestinal Severity Index (6-GSI) was used to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal symptoms in two groups.
Results:
The detection rates of constipation, stool odor, and total intestinal symptoms in ASD children were significantly higher than those in TD children (40.098% vs. 25.622%, 17.021% vs. 9.287%, and 53.601% vs. 41.294%, respectively). Autistic children presenting with intestinal comorbidity had significantly higher scores on the ABC, SRS, CARS, and multiple subscales than autistic children without intestinal symptoms, suggesting that intestinal comorbidity may exacerbates the core symptoms of ASD children.
Conclusion:
Intestinal dysfunction was significantly more common in autistic than in TD children. This dysfunction may aggravate the core symptoms of children with ASD.
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