Recurrent abdominal pain syndrome among school children in the Gampaha district in Sri Lanka

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) syndrome is defined as "at least three bouts of abdominal pain, severe enough to affect activities, over a period of not less than three months". The prevalence of RAP syndrome among Sri Lankan children was unknown and the main objective of this study was to detect it. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to a randomly selected sample of school children, aged between 5 to 15 years, from 4 randomly selected schools in the Gampaha district. RAP was defined according to Apley's criteria, a percentage of children fulfilling these criteria were interviewed and prevalence was adjusted accordingly. RESULTS: A total of 810 questionnaires were distributed and 734 (90.6%) were returned. There were 432 (46.6%) males and 392 (53.4%) females. The prevalence of RAP was 10.5% (9.6% in males and 11.2% in females). The highest prevalence was seen in children aged between 10 and 11 years and the mean age was 10.6years (SD 2.6years). RAP was significantly higher among children who were exposed to at least one stressful life event during past 6 months (p<0.0001) and who had a family history of RAP (p<0.000l). There were no associations between RAP and total family income, family size, father's alcohol consumption and having a working mother. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent abdominal pain syndrome of childhood is a common problem in Sri Lanka affecting 10.5% of school children. RAP was higher in children who were exposed to emotional stress and who had a family history suggestive of the condition.