subject: Children And Irritable Bowel Syndrome [print this page] Anyone can suffer from IBS and that includes children. IBS is not a disease, although it can be distressing, particularly for children who may not understand what is happening or why they are experiencing such discomfort and pain. It's important to note that IBS is not dangerous and won't lead to anything more serious, in fact there are no physical abnormalities present in IBS at all, only a collection of symptoms that can vary from person to person. The symptoms for children are much the same as those for adults and include:
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Alternating diarrhoea and constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Mucous in the stools
- Feeling that the bowels haven't quite emptied after a bowel movement
- Straining whilst trying to perform a bowel movement
- Flatulence (wind)
- Headaches
- Nausea
Some children may also lose weight as they try to avoid eating in order to prevent the associated pain. However, weight loss in itself is not a symptom of IBS. It's also important to note that most children will experience some or all of these symptoms from time to time and that doesn't mean they have IBS, the only way to identify whether your child has IBS and to obtain an accurate diagnosis is to speak to your doctor.
How is IBS diagnosed in children?
Your doctor will ask questions about your child's bowel movements, diet, and health in general. It is possible that IBS will be diagnosed if your child has abdominal pain and discomfort along with any two of the following:
- The pain is relived after performing a bowel movement
- The start of the pain coincided with a change in the frequency of bowel movements
- The start of the pain coincided with a change in the consistency of the stools
Also, the symptoms have been present for 3 months within the past year and there are no other conditions present that could cause the symptoms.
What causes IBS in children?
The onset of IBS in children can occur after a stressful event such as problems at school or home, bullying, or a bout of illness such as gastroenteritis, or maybe for no identifiable reason at all. So can your child's IBS be caused by stress? The straightforward answer to this is no as stress does not cause IBS, however, stress can and does play a part as it can trigger symptoms and make any existing symptoms much worse. It's important to talk to your child to identify any worries or problems they may have and to find ways of dealing with them.
What treatment is there for a child with IBS?
There is no single effective treatment for IBS so it is more a case of finding out what helps and what doesn't. The first step would be to talk to your doctor and to heed any advice that is offered. As far as children are concerned, you will more than likely be advised to make some changes to the child's diet.
Occasionally, if the symptoms are severe, your child may be offered laxatives or other medication. If this is the case then it's vital that you carefully follow the instructions for use.
Helping your child cope with IBS
- Eliminate foods and drinks that your child is particularly sensitive too
- Increase the amount of soluble fibre in the diet in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables and cereals like oats
- Reduce the amount of fatty foods or spicy foods in the diet
- Make sure your child drinks plenty of water or diluted fruit juice
- Avoid snacks before bedtime
- Stay away from processed foods as much as possible
- Cut down on carbonated drinks and offer water or fruit juice instead
- Talk to your child so that they understand what is happening and involve them in discussions about their IBS
- Make it easy for your child to talk to you about anything that may be troubling them
- Encourage your child to eat regularly and to go to the toilet when they first experience the urge to go
The good news is that with encouragement and support and by making the necessary dietary changes, there is every chance that your child's IBS will be kept under control and they can get back to enjoying life in the way that children should.
