RESUMO
This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain in a community based population of children and whether a subgroup of these subjects have symptoms resembling irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], and to find out whether anxiety, depression, self concept and self image are more commonly affected in those children. A total of 300 subjects participated, one hundred from each of the primary, middle and high schools, with an age range from 8 to 16 years. Abdominal pain was noted by 61% to 76% of all studients. The pain occurred weekly in 3% to 14% and was severe enough to affect activities in 12% to 17%. Among students with abdominal pain 37.7% to 60.5% related the onset of pain to some significant events. Irritable bowel syndrome type symptoms were noted by 6.6%, 8.6% and 15.8% of primary, middle and high school studens who reported abdominal pain respectively, representing [in the same order] 4%, 6% and 12% of all students. A statistical significant higher incidence of associated psychosomatic symptoms were noted among students with abdominal pain [P<0.05]. Similarly higher incidence of mood and personality disturbances were found in students with abdominal pain and those with IBS-type symptoms [P<0.01]