F. Bruder Stapleton, MD reviewing Giannetti E et al. J Pediatr 2017 Jan 18.

Over 24 months, IBS resolved spontaneously in 48 of 83 children, regardless of symptomatic treatment, sex, age, or symptom severity.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children manifests as abdominal pain and constipation (cIBS), diarrhea (dIBS), or alternating constipation and diarrhea (aIBS). To describe changes in pediatric IBS symptoms over time, researchers surveyed 83 Italian children (mean age, 11 years) at the time of IBS diagnosis and after 24 months.

Thirty-four children had cIBS, 26 had dIBS, and 23 had aIBS. Initial symptom scores were low (score 1 or 2) in 58 children and high (3 or 4) in 25. Thirty-six children were treated symptomatically with either polyethylene glycol, probiotics, or trimebutine.

Spontaneous resolution of symptoms occurred in 48 patients (58%) and did not differ by IBS subtype (c, d, or a), sex, or age. Though differences were not statistically significant, spontaneous resolution rates were higher among patients with low versus high initial symptom scores (62% and 48%, respectively) and in those who were treated with reassurance only versus some type of symptomatic medical therapy (64% and 42%, respectively).

CITATION(S):

Giannetti E et al. Do children just grow out of irritable bowel syndrome? J Pediatr 2017 Jan 18; [e-pub]. 

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