Eleonora Giannetti1, Marco Maglione1, Elisa Sciorio1, Vincenzo Coppola1, Erasmo Miele1, Annamaria Staiano2. 1. Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. 2. Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: staiano@unina.it.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Few data exist on natural history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children; therefore we investigated symptoms evolution over time in a cohort of children with IBS. STUDY DESIGN: In this observational, single-center study, we prospectively enrolled newly diagnosed children with IBS and reassessed them after 24 months. At both time points, patients completed a symptoms questionnaire, and a score of stool consistency was obtained. The therapeutic strategy adopted was also recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-three children (age 11 years, range, 4-16.6 years; 53 males) completed the study. Forty-seven (56.6%) patients received no medical treatment, whereas polyethylene glycol, probiotics, and trimebutine were prescribed to 9 (10.8%), 24 (28.9%), and 3 (3.6%) subjects, respectively. Twenty-four months after diagnosis, 48 children (57.8%) reported resolution of symptoms (P <.001), without differences between sexes (P = .35) or among IBS subtypes (P = .49). Of these, 30 (62.5%) had been only reassured and 18 (37.5%) had been prescribed medical treatment (P = .26). Despite not being statistically significant, symptoms resolution was more common in patients receiving no medical treatment than in those receiving probiotics (63.8% vs 41.6%, P = .08). Among patients with constipation-IBS, no difference was found in symptoms resolution between patients receiving polyethylene glycol and those receiving no medical treatment (67% and 40%, respectively, P = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Children with IBS are likely to show spontaneous symptoms resolution over a 24-month follow-up, regardless of sex, age, impact of symptoms on daily activities, and IBS subtypes.
OBJECTIVE: Few data exist on natural history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children; therefore we investigated symptoms evolution over time in a cohort of children with IBS. STUDY DESIGN: In this observational, single-center study, we prospectively enrolled newly diagnosed children with IBS and reassessed them after 24 months. At both time points, patients completed a symptoms questionnaire, and a score of stool consistency was obtained. The therapeutic strategy adopted was also recorded. RESULTS: Eighty-three children (age 11 years, range, 4-16.6 years; 53 males) completed the study. Forty-seven (56.6%) patients received no medical treatment, whereas polyethylene glycol, probiotics, and trimebutine were prescribed to 9 (10.8%), 24 (28.9%), and 3 (3.6%) subjects, respectively. Twenty-four months after diagnosis, 48 children (57.8%) reported resolution of symptoms (P <.001), without differences between sexes (P = .35) or among IBS subtypes (P = .49). Of these, 30 (62.5%) had been only reassured and 18 (37.5%) had been prescribed medical treatment (P = .26). Despite not being statistically significant, symptoms resolution was more common in patients receiving no medical treatment than in those receiving probiotics (63.8% vs 41.6%, P = .08). Among patients with constipation-IBS, no difference was found in symptoms resolution between patients receiving polyethylene glycol and those receiving no medical treatment (67% and 40%, respectively, P = 1). CONCLUSIONS:Children with IBS are likely to show spontaneous symptoms resolution over a 24-month follow-up, regardless of sex, age, impact of symptoms on daily activities, and IBS subtypes.
Authors: Maria Luísa Cordeiro Santos; Ronaldo Teixeira da Silva Júnior; Breno Bittencourt de Brito; Filipe Antônio França da Silva; Hanna Santos Marques; Vinícius Lima de Souza Gonçalves; Talita Costa Dos Santos; Carolina Ladeia Cirne; Natália Oliveira E Silva; Márcio Vasconcelos Oliveira; Fabrício Freire de Melo Journal: World J Clin Pediatr Date: 2022-03-09