Lactose malabsorption based on breath hydrogen test in children with recurrent abdominal pain

Background Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is common amongschool-age children. Previous studies found that lactose malab-sorption has an important role in RAP in children. Up to date, dataon the prevalence of lactose malabsorption in children with RAPin Indonesia has not been available.Objective To elicit the prevalence of RAP and lactose malabsorption inchildren with RAP, and to determine associated foods that cause RAPin children with and without lactose malabsorption, the frequency oflactose intolerance during breath hydrogen test (BHT), and also theonset and duration of the symptoms after a lactose load.Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted on juniorhigh school students who suffered from recurrent abdominal pain.Results Of 1054 students screened, 157 (14.9%) fulfilled the Apley’scriteria for RAP. Of 157, 85 children were enrolled and underwentBHT. Fifty five of them (65%) were girls. Lactose malabsorptionwas found in 68 (80%) subjects. Milk and yogurt were the mostfrequent products that cause symptoms of RAP in our subjectswho mostly (80%) were malabsorber. Lactose intolerance duringBHT was found in 69 (81%) children. Symptoms appeared in 30minutes after lactose ingestion, and the most frequent symptomwas abdominal pain (44%). Lactose intolerance symptoms disap-peared in about 15 hours.Conclusions The prevalence of RAP in children aged 12-14 yearswas 14.9%. The prevalence of lactose malabsorption in childrenwith RAP was 80%. Milk and yogurt were the most frequent productsthat cause symptoms of RAP in our subjects who mostly weremalabsorbers. The frequency of lactose intolerance during BHTwas 81%, and the symptoms lasted within approximately 15 hours

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Recurrent abdominal pain in adolescents with anxiety and depression disorders

Paediatrica Indonesiana ◽

10.14238/pi53.1.2013.16-20 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 16

Author(s):

Fastralina Fastralina ◽

Sri Sofyani ◽

M. Joesoef Simbolon ◽

Iskandar Z. Lubis

Keyword(s):

Abdominal Pain ◽

High Schools ◽

Child Behavior ◽

Child Behavior Checklist ◽

Recurrent Abdominal Pain ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Depression Disorders

Background Anxiety and depression disorders in adolescentsmay affect their academic performances and social functioningat school. Adolescents with these disorders sometimes developrecurrent abdominal pain (RAP).Objective To assess the occurence of recurrent abdominal painamong adolescents with anxiety and depression disordersMethods We conducted a cross-sectional study from Augustto September 2009 in 12-18 year-old adolescents from 3 juniorhigh schools and 3 senior high schools in Secanggang Subdistrict,Langkat District, North Sumatera Province. We screened 960adolescents. Subjects were selected by consecutive samplingand instructed to fill the child behavior checklist (CBCL) andchildren's depression inventory (CDI) forms. Those with suspectedanxiety/depression (CBCL score 2: 12 for boys and 2: 14 for girls)and those with suspected depression (CDI score 2: 13) were thenexamined by a psychiatrist. Adolescents diagnosed with anxiety ordepression disorders were instructed to fill the RAP questionnairebased on Apley and Naish criteria.Results From the CBCL and CDI forms, 250 students weresuspected of having anxiety and/or depression. From these,144 students participated in this study. Of the 84 students withanxiety disorders, 60 (71.4%) students suffered from RAP. Ofthe 60 students with depression disorders, 31 (51 %) sufferedfrom RAP.Conclusion Adolescents with anxiety or depression are morelikely to have recurrent abdominal pain.

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