High Prevalence of Nausea in Children With Pain‐Associated Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

• DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0b013e3182964203
• Publication Date: 2013-04-16T15:32:06Z
• Authors: Katja Kovacic; Sara Williams; B U.K. Li; Gisela Chelimsky; Adrian Miranda
• Keywords: Diarrhea; Male; Adolescent; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Migraine Disorders; Pain; Nausea; Severity of Illness Index; Abdominal Pain; 3. Good health; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Surveys and Questionnaires; Prevalence; Humans; Female; Interpersonal Relations; Prospective Studies; Dyspepsia; Child; Somatoform Disorders; Constipation

ABSTRACTObjectives:The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of nausea in pediatric patients with pain‐associated functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), examine the effect on social and school functioning, and examine the applicability of pediatric Rome III criteria.Methods:A total of 221 pediatric patients (6–18 years of age) with chronic abdominal pain prospectively completed a demographic, history, and gastrointestinal symptom questionnaire adapted from the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms (QPGS). The 6‐item, revised Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Score tool was used to assess the effect of symptoms on school, home, and social disability. Rome III criteria were applied to all subjects.Results:A total of 183 patients with pain and nausea for a minimum of 2 months were identified. Ninety‐six patients were studied after excluding those with vomiting and/or organic disease. Among these, 53% had nausea at least 2 times per week and 28% experienced daily nausea. Frequency of nausea was significantly correlated with poor school and social functioning, and uniquely predicted social disability beyond pain. Although 87% met adult Rome criteria for functional dyspepsia, only 29% met corresponding pediatric Rome criteria. Additionally, 22% met the criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)‐diarrhea, 13% for IBS‐constipation, 13% for abdominal migraine, and 31% were classified as having functional abdominal pain. Pediatric IBS‐diarrhea and IBS‐constipation overlapped in 5% of patients.Conclusions:Nausea is a prevalent symptom in patients with pain‐associated FGIDs and correlates with poor school and social functioning. There is substantial overlap among FGIDs in children with nausea.