Background: Functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGIDs) are emerging as an important cause of morbidity in adolescents globally. The prevalence of FGIDs among Indian children or adolescents is not clear.
Methods: A cross-sectional school-based survey conducted in 1115 children aged 10-17 years attending four semi urban government schools of National capital territory (NCT) of Delhi. Rome III questionnaire was translated into Hindi and was filled by the students under supervision. Prevalence of FGIDs was calculated.
Results: Ten percent (112) adolescents had FGIDs. Out of 112, 52 % (58) were boys, and 48 % (54) were girls. 2.7 % (30) had functional dyspepsia, 1.3 % (15) had irritable bowel syndrome, 1.4 % (16) had abdominal migraine, 1.5 % (17) had aerophagia, 0.4 % (5) had functional abdominal pain syndrome, and 0.3 % (4) had functional abdominal pain. Prevalence of functional constipation, adolescent rumination syndrome, cyclical vomiting syndrome, and non-retentive fecal incontinence were 0.5 % (6), 0.3 % (4), 0.3 % (3), 0.4 % (5), respectively. Functional abdominal pain-related FGID were present in 6.3 % (70) children (35 boys and 35 girls). Functional constipation (4 vs. 2) and functional abdominal pain syndrome (4 vs. 1, p < 0.05) were significantly more in females.
Conclusions: The prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in our study was 10 %. The most frequent FGID noted was functional dyspepsia.
Keywords: Adolescent health; Functional disorders; Gastroenterology; School health.