Abdominal pain predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders in adolescent Nigerians

Abstract

AIMS: To determine the prevalence, pattern and predisposing factors of abdominal painpredominant functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs) in adolescent Nigerians. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted in two states in the southern part of Nigeria in June 2014. Adolescents aged 10 - 18 years were recruited from 11 secondary schools using a stratified random sampling technique. A validated self-administered questionnaire on Rome III criteria for diagnosing AP-FGIDs and its determinants were filled by the participants in a class room setting. RESULTS: A total of 874 participants filled the questionnaire. Of this, 818 (93.4%) filled it properly and were included in the final analysis. The mean age of participants was 14.6 ± 2.0 years with 409 (50.0%) being males. AP-FGIDs were present in 81 (9.9%) participants. Among them, 46 (5.6%) had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 21 (2.6%) functional abdominal pain, 15 (1.8%) abdominalmigraine while 3 (0.4%) had functional dyspepsia. The difference in AP-FGIDs between adolescents residing in rural and urban areas was not statistically significant (P = 0.22). AP-FGDs was significantly associated with frequent punishment at school (P = 0.03), Intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms occurred more frequently in those with AP-FGIDs. loss of appetite (56.8% vs. 38.4% in controls), nausea (51.6% vs. 30.0%), headache (76.5% vs. 65.0%), photophobia (56.8% vs. 34.6%) and light-headedness (50.6% vs. 32.6%). Nausea was the only symptom independently associated with AP-FGIDs (p = 0.015). Multiple regression analysis showed no significant association between stressful life events and FGIDs. (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AP-FGIDs are a significant health problem in Nigerian adolescents. In addition to the intestinal symptoms, most of the affected children had other them also had extra-intestinal symptoms. None of the stressful life events evaluated was significantly associated with FGIDs. Frequent punishment in schools was significantly associated with the condition.