Young Children with IBS - Children's Health Message Board

06-25-2002, 05:52 AM

Hi,

I just wondered whether any of you have young children who have had stomach problems who have subsequently been diagnosed with IBS? By young, I mean children as young as 3 years or younger.

When they were diagnosed as having IBS, was your doc able to tell you the cause at all?

Thanks for your insights.

Sarah

Lindarella · 06-25-2002, 10:43 AM

No one knows the cause of IBS so although children can have IBS, a doctor wouldn't know the cause.

06-25-2002, 11:07 AM

Yes, I know the cause of IBS is not known. I phrased the question wrongly. What I really meant was, when they were diagnosed, did the docs have any insight as to why a child that young would suddenly be given a diagnosis of IBS?

Jay Tor · 06-25-2002, 11:15 AM

A couple of links on IBS and stomach disorders:

IBS:
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/irritablebowelsyndrome.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/irritablebowelsyndrome.html[/url]

Stomach Disorders:
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stomachdisorders.html"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stomachdisorders.html[/url]

I have a niece and nephew who had gastric problems since birth. Turned out both simply lack a few enzymes to digest some specific proteins. The older one [6yo] is now completely med-free but will always need to avoid a few problem foods. The younger one [3yo] is still on a restricted diet and some meds to help relieve gas, cramps, etc. Both are thriving.

In both cases, an IBS diagnosis wasn't made simply because of the severity of symptoms and their very young age when symptoms first presented. We have learned since that some enzymes are rarely tested for, therefore it is possible to obtain a false IBS dx. Basically what this means is that if the IBS diet doesn't work, time for more specific tests. Something else to consider [and research] is that IBS and some other digestive disorders can fall into the "auto-immune" category.

Good luck,
Jay

Lindarella · 06-25-2002, 02:24 PM

I think Sarah, that the diagnosis depends on what tests were used to make the diagnosis. As Jay said, there are several things that can be wrong with children and need to be tested for such as allergies. If the child has not had any allergey tests, I'd find the diagnosis of IBS suspicious as this should probably be the first thing looked at in such a small child.

It really depends on the symptoms. You didn't mention what led to the diagnosis of IBS. Is the child consitpated? diarrhea? all the time? sometimes? does it get better or worse? is it the same whether the child eats or not? does the child ever get hives? have asthma? rash? pain?

People with IBS don't have a special diet. I mean, some do obviously as certain food is a trigger for many with IBS but food is not the cause of IBS. So some do have to watch the food they eat and with others it doesn't matter what they eat. Sometimes it's just the act of eating that will bring on an attack, sometimes stress, sometimes no obvious reason can be found. It's different for everyone with IBS.