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Children who frequently miss school due to abdominal complaints are significantly more likely to suffer from gut-brain axis disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, rather than illnesses that can be diagnosed through medical tests, according to new research from UVA Health Children’s. This finding could lead to improved care and a reduction in unnecessary medical testing for children with these common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.
Dr. Stephen M. Borowitz and fourth-year medical student Seth M. Tersteeg analyzed school absenteeism reported by parents who brought their children to UVA Health Children’s Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic. Their study revealed that children who missed more than three days of school in the previous month were nearly five times more likely to be diagnosed with a functional gastrointestinal disorder—conditions that include irritable bowel syndrome and heightened digestive sensitivity—than with a disease that could be detected through standard medical tests.
Moreover, children who had been absent for the entire month were nearly eight times more likely to have a functional GI disorder, the researchers found.
Delays in Diagnosis Impacting Children and Families
Dr. Borowitz emphasized the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment. “We suspect that one of the biggest reasons children with functional gastrointestinal disorders are more likely to miss lots of school is because of what is often a long delay in making a definitive diagnosis,” he said. “The longer the child goes without an explanation for their symptoms, the more anxious, fearful, and frustrated they and their family become. In general, the quicker we can identify what is going on and begin treatment, the better the outcome.”
Gastrointestinal problems are common among school-age children, with chronic abdominal pain and constipation accounting for up to 38% of pediatrician visits. Research suggests that 95% of these cases are due to functional GI disorders rather than underlying diseases. Delayed diagnoses not only lead to increased school absenteeism but may also diminish treatment effectiveness.
The Link Between School Absenteeism and GI Disorders
Despite the prevalence of GI issues in children, Borowitz and Tersteeg found no prior studies assessing the connection between school absenteeism and these conditions. “Over the years, it seemed like the majority of children we were seeing in our practice with chronic gastrointestinal complaints and frequent school absences were suffering from functional GI disorders rather than gastrointestinal diseases,” Tersteeg explained. “So we performed this study to see if this impression was correct.”
To investigate, the researchers analyzed school absenteeism among children aged 5 to 19 who visited UVA’s Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic between September 2016 and June 2017. The study, which examined 674 visits, found that 82% of children who missed more than three days of school in the previous month were diagnosed with a functional GI disorder.
Among the 408 children diagnosed with functional GI disorders, the most common conditions were functional constipation (36%), functional abdominal pain (35%), and irritable bowel syndrome (31%). Additionally, more than 220 of the children were diagnosed with more than one disorder, though their absenteeism rates were no higher than those with a single disorder.
Potential for Improved Diagnosis and Care
The study suggests that doctors may find it beneficial to ask parents about their child’s school absenteeism when evaluating GI complaints. Recognizing patterns of frequent school absences could help physicians diagnose functional GI disorders more quickly, enabling earlier treatment and potentially improving health outcomes for affected children.
The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics under the study titled School Absenteeism as a Predictor of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children by Tersteeg et al.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on research findings and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Parents concerned about their child’s health should consult a qualified healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
