Call GI Care for Kids in the Greater Atlanta area at (404) 257-0799
Overview
At GI Care for Kids, many children are evaluated because of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia. Symptoms of both of these disorders in children include abdominal pain, abnormal stool patterns, and nausea.
What is IBS?
Although some doctors use the term irritable bowel syndrome for any child with abdominal pain, specific criteria for IBS have been published. This includes symptoms and, when needed, additional tests.
The “Rome criteria” can be helpful in establishing a diagnosis of IBS. These diagnostic criteria specify that to diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, a patient will have abdominal discomfort or pain with at least two of the following characteristics:
- Abdominal discomfort or pain relieved with defecation
- Onset is associated with a change in stool frequency (going to the bathroom more or less often when the pain is present)
- Onset is associated with a change in the form or appearance of stool (such as diarrhea, constipation, or the presence of mucus in the stool)
How Common Is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder, affecting 10%-15% of the entire U.S. population, including children and teenagers.
What Causes IBS?
In many cases, irritable bowel syndrome is triggered by an intestinal infection that makes the nerves in the intestine sensitive, even after the infection is no longer present. When these nerves are extra sensitive, it can cause pain during normal digestion (the typical movement of food through the GI tract) and can include cramps and bloating. It is considered a functional disorder, meaning the body’s normal ability to function is not quite working right.
In some individuals, specific foods act as triggers for symptoms. Stress can also increase symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
IBS is sometimes referred to as spastic colon, nervous stomach, or irritable colon.
What Testing Is Needed for IBS?
In many children, it may be important to exclude other conditions that could have similar symptoms. This includes celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), infections, and gastritis. Often these conditions can be evaluated with blood tests and stool tests.
Endoscopy is almost always performed when IBS is suspected – but usually is not needed. This is because IBS does not result in abnormal endoscopy findings. This is in contrast to IBD, which almost always involves abnormal endoscopy findings.
What Treatments Are Helpful for IBS?
There are numerous treatments for irritable bowel syndrome. Our doctors may recommend medications, diet treatments (like a low FODMAPS diet), working with our pain psychologists, or even a neurostimulatory device (IB-Stim). Psychological pain therapy can teach patients how to relax their abdomen, distract their mind, and better cope with annoying IBS symptoms.
What is Dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia, or non-ulcer dyspepsia, refers to a functional disorder that often causes pain and/or nausea in the upper abdomen.
What Causes Dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia is sometimes triggered by an infection that makes stomach nerves more sensitive. Symptoms can be worsened by stress and sometimes by certain foods.
What Testing Is Needed for Dyspepsia?
If bloodwork and stool test results are normal, many patients with dyspepsia will need an upper endoscopy to help exclude other causes like ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), allergic disorders, gastritis, and celiac disease.
What Treatments Are Helpful for Dyspepsia?
These symptoms may respond to dietary changes, acid blockers therapy, pain modulators, anti-nausea medications, or therapy with a psychologist.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Alarm symptoms include fevers, rectal bleeding, significant weight loss, or abnormal blood, urine, or stool tests. Please seek immediate medical attention in these cases. IBS and dyspepsia are not typically the cause of these signs and symptoms.
What to Expect When You Visit a GI Care for Kids Office
Sometimes, GI disorders like IBS and dyspepsia are associated with stressors like a new school, conflict with friends or family, divorce (or stressed parents), or a recent illness or death in a child’s family. It will be important for you to carefully consider all of the stressors in your child’s life and discuss them with your pediatrician and with our team.
Please help us by bringing a copy of all previous lab tests and growth records with you to your specialist’s appointment.
Together, we will decide if further testing is needed and which treatments may be helpful for your child.
Before you see the gastroenterologist for suspected IBS or dyspepsia, it is a good idea to try a few simple dietary changes. You may wish to try a lactose-free diet for a few days to see if milk (specifically the sugar in milk, lactose) is causing the problem. You can do this by eliminating cow’s milk in the form of milk, cheese, cream, and ice cream for a few days. Sometimes, it is as simple as reducing the child’s intake of junk food, high fructose corn syrup (a sweetener found in many foods that can cause cramping and bloating), caffeine, sodas, or excessively spicy or fried foods.
As with any condition, please discuss your symptoms and concerns with your medical providers and notify them if there are any major changes in your child’s symptoms.
More Info About IBS in Children
Helpful information about irritable bowel syndrome can also be found here:
- Amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and dispiramine: what you need to know (a GI Care for Kids handout)
- FODMAP dieting guide at ibsdiets.org
- GI Kids, the educational outreach division of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN)
- International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Nutrition4kids.com, a resource for parents who want to feed their kids well, regardless of medical challenges or allergies. Subscribe for updates personalized for you and your child. Relevant posts include:
- Dietary treatment for IBS
Discover more about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia in children. Call GI Care for Kids in the Greater Atlanta area at (404) 257-0799 or request your appointment now.