OBJECTIVE To (i) describe the proportion of children presenting with abdominal pain diagnosed by the GP as functional abdominal pain (GPFAP); (ii) evaluate the association between patient and disease characteristics and GPFAP; (iii) describe diagnostic management by the GP in children presenting with abdominal pain, and (iv) evaluate whether children with GPFAP fulfill diagnostic criteria for f...

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) account for at least 40% of all referrals to gastroenterologists. Of the 33 recognized adult FGIDs, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most prevalent, with a worldwide prevalence estimated at 12%. IBS is an important health care concern as it greatly affects patients' quality of life and imposes a significant economic burden to the health care sy...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most commonly encountered functional gastrointestinal disorders in the elderly. IBS is characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence of specific organic pathology. The diagnosis of IBS usually depends primarily on established clinical criteria. Currently, Rome III criteria are the criteria of choice for defining IBS. However...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic disorder, greatly impacts the lives of those affected. Approximately one quarter of the North American population suffers from this condition that includes abdominal pain, discomfort and alterations in normal bowel function. Constipation-subtype IBS (IBS-C) is often found to be a prevalent subtype; however, a lack of knowledge and effective treatment op...

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder diagnosed on symptom-based criteria without inclusion of any objective parameter measurable by known diagnostic methods. Heterogeneity of the disorder and overlapping with more serious organic diseases increase uncertainty for the physician's work and increase the cost of confirming the diagnosis. This paper is an attempt to summarize the efforts to find a...

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are a common problem in pediatric patients and can affect quality of life. However, the extent of these disorders may vary in different subpopulations of children. This study investigated the prevalence of FGIDs in an inner-city primary care practice. Healthy patients between the ages of 9 and 17 were administered a validated questionnaire that asse...