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Characterization of irritable bowel syndrome and constipation in children with allergic diseases

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Abstract

Allergy is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation. We investigated whether allergic patients are more prone to constipation or IBS. In a multicenter study, two groups of outpatient children aged 3–13 years were included. In group 1, children with allergic symptoms were enrolled. Group 2 consisted of nonallergic children. In both groups, the assessment of IBS and constipation was carried out using a questionnaire based on the Rome criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders. All children were examined and underwent skin prick tests (SPT) to foods and aeroallergens. The allergic group (n = 196) and controls (n = 127) were comparable with respect to sex, age, and anthropometric parameters. IBS was found in 6.6% of the allergic children and in 6.3% of the controls (p = 0.581). The frequency of constipation was similar in the two groups. In allergic children, positive SPTs to food and self-reported reactions to food were associated with IBS. Our results show that evaluation of constipation comorbidity is not required in allergic children. In allergic children with positive SPT to foods attention may be paid to IBS symptoms.

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Abbreviations

IBS:

irritable bowel syndrome

FGID:

functional gastrointestinal disorder

SPT:

skin prick tests

OR:

odds ratio

CI:

confidence interval

SD:

standard deviation

n:

number

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento dell’Età Evolutiva, Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100, Parma, Italy

    Carlo Caffarelli

  2. Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy

    Alessandra Coscia

  3. U.O. Pediatria, AUSL di Bologna, Imola, Italy

    Francesco Baldi

  4. U.O. di Pediatria, AUSL Modena, Sassuolo, Italy

    Adriana Borghi & Giovanni Cavagni

  5. U.O. Pediatria e Adolescentologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Arcispedale S.Anna, Ferrara, Italy

    Lucetta Capra

  6. Dipartimento di Pediatria, Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Salvatore Cazzato

  7. U.O. Pediatria, AUSL Ancona, Senigallia, Italy

    Luciana Migliozzi

  8. Ambulatorio Allergologico, Ospedale Civile, Università di Ferrara, Bondeno, Italy

    Lisa Pecorari

  9. U.O. Pediatria, Presidio Ospedaliero di Lugo, AUSL Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy

    Andrea Valenti

Authors
  1. Carlo Caffarelli
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  2. Alessandra Coscia
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  3. Francesco Baldi
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  4. Adriana Borghi
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  5. Lucetta Capra
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  6. Salvatore Cazzato
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  7. Luciana Migliozzi
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  8. Lisa Pecorari
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  9. Andrea Valenti
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  10. Giovanni Cavagni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlo Caffarelli.

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Caffarelli, C., Coscia, A., Baldi, F. et al. Characterization of irritable bowel syndrome and constipation in children with allergic diseases. Eur J Pediatr 166, 1245–1252 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0410-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0410-y

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