Bothersome gastrointestinal (GI) signs/symptoms, including abdominal pain, distension, nausea, and flatulence, are common in children. A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) is frequently recommended for children with GI symptoms. Currently, there are no studies on the effect of FODMAPs in healthy schoolchildren. In this cross-sectional study, schoolchildren reported an association between FODMAPs and GI symptoms through a standardized questionnaire and images of 20 common staples known to be rich in FODMAPs. A total of 208 schoolchildren aged 8–18 years old participated. A proportion of 38.0% of children reported GI symptoms, with abdominal pain (33%) being the most common complaint followed by abdominal distension (24%) and nausea (23%). The majority of children who reported intolerances to FODMAP-containing foods were intolerant to less than two food groups (76%). While vegetables and legumes (26%), particularly black beans (11%) and onions (7%), emerged as the most common group of triggers, milk (12%) stood out as the single food most frequently associated with GI symptoms. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of FODMAPs intolerance among schoolchildren. Larger studies are recommended to confirm these findings and to inform possible dietary interventions to reduce the effect of FODMAPs on schoolchildren.

Introducción: la fisiopatología de los desórdenes gastrointestinales funcionales (DGF) incluye un eje intestino-cerebro alterado. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia y posibles asociaciones de ansiedad en niños con DGF. Metodología: estudio de prevalencia realizado en ciudades colombianas en niños entre 8 y 18 años a quienes se les identificaron DGF según los Criterios de Roma III y ansiedad por medio del State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. Se incluyeron variables sociodemográficas y familiares. El análisis estadístico incluyó medidas de tendencia central, análisis uni- y multivariados, y regresión logística, teniendo en cuenta una p < 0,05 como significativa. Resultados: se incluyeron 1496 niños, 12,7 ± 2,1 años, 50,5 % niñas, 79,9 % con ansiedad transitoria y 51,5 % con tendencia a experimentar estados de ansiedad. Hubo predominio para el estado-ansiedad en adolescentes masculinos y para el rasgo-ansiedad en adolescentes femeninas con algún DGF. Los posibles factores de riesgo fueron la edad y el sexo para estado-ansiedad, y la edad, el sexo y los DGF para el rasgo-ansiedad. Conclusiones: cerca de la mitad de los niños tuvo tendencia a presentar estados de ansiedad, con predominio de las adolescentes femeninas y con factores de riesgo como la edad, el sexo y tener algún DGF.

Background/Objectives: Functional constipation (FC) is diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria, which require at least two of seven symptoms for diagnosis. Clinical trials evaluating FC treatments commonly use bowel movement frequency, stool consistency, and fecal incontinence as primary endpoints. However, there is limited data on whether these endpoints accurately represent the symptom distribution in children with FC. This study assessed the frequency of each criterion in a large children’s community sample to determine whether commonly used clinical trial endpoints accurately reflect symptom distribution. Methods: A cross-sectional study of school children aged 8–18 years was conducted across seven Colombian cities. Participants completed the Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rome IV Questionnaire (QPGS-IV). The prevalence of FC and the distribution of diagnostic criteria were analyzed, calculating the percentage of each criterion. Results: 6611 children completed the questionnaires. FC was diagnosed in 12.8% of participants, making it the most common disorder of gut–brain interaction. The most reported criteria were fewer than two stools per week (66.1%) and painful bowel movements (65%), while fecal incontinence was uncommon (6.9%). 60.5% of participants met only two criteria, with two or fewer defecations per week and painful bowel movements being the most common combination. Conclusions: This study reveals significant variability in Rome IV criteria prevalence for FC, highlighting disparities between the most common endpoints in clinical trials and symptom distribution in a community-based cohort. Painful bowel movements emerged as a critical diagnostic component but remain underutilized as an endpoint in pediatric trials. These findings suggest the possible need to reassess endpoint selection in clinical trials.

Background: Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction (DGBIs) are present in 23.0% of the paediatric population, according to Rome IV. Latin American (LA) prevalence of DGBIs in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of DGBIs and possible associations in schoolchildren and adolescents with ASD from LA. Methods: An observational analytical study was conducted in LA cities. Caregivers of children with ASD completed the Rome IV Questionnaire for Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms to identify DGBIs. Sociodemographic, clinical, and family variables were included. Statistical analysis involved central tendency measures, univariate and bivariate analysis, calculation odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), with p < 0.05 significance. Results: The study included 353 children with ASD. Predominantly male (78.8%), white (56.1%), attending private schools (79.3%), altered nutritional status (43.9%), born by c-section (57.5%), firstborn (54.7%), level of autism not classified at the time of the study (49.0%). A total of 58.9% presented DGBI. Functional constipation (FC) was the most frequent (27.2%). Those from Central America (CA) had a higher likelihood of presenting a DGBI (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.25–3.12, p = 0.0018). Conclusions: Over half of LA schoolchildren and adolescents with ASD presented DGBI, FC being the most common, and higher likelihood of DGBI in CA.

Background: Disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) are multifactorial. Early-life events are proposed as factors involved in their etiopathogenesis. The relationship between mode of delivery, prematurity, and DGBI development remains unclear. This study examines whether cesarean delivery and prematurity contribute to early childhood DGBI. Methods: Caregivers of children aged 1 month to 4 years from four Colombian cities participated in a cross-sectional study. Pediatricians completed the Spanish-validated Questionnaire of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rome IV (QPGS-IV). Data of children born by cesarean delivery and prematurity were compared with controls. Categorical data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: DGBIs were identified in 26.6% of children, with functional constipation (FC) being the most prevalent (22.3%). Among children born via cesarean section (54.3%), 30.4% of them had a DGBI (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.20–1.96, p = 0.00), and 26.3% had FC (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.29–2.18, p = 0.00). Prematurity was observed in 12.6% of children and was associated with a higher prevalence of DGBI (35.7%, (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.16–2.29, p = 0.00), with FC affecting 30.8% (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.16–2.35, p = 0.00). Conclusions: Cesarean delivery and prematurity were found to be associated with DGBI in early childhood, particularly FC. These findings highlight the need for further research to explore potential mechanisms and confirm these associations.