Celiac Disease Tied To IBS in Children

Children who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome appear to be more likely to develop celiac disease as well, according to a recent study.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics details recent findings that suggest that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -- a chronic disorder that causes abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation -- is somehow associated with a higher prevalence of celiac disease in children.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that inflames and even damages the small intestine. It is a genetic disorder, and stays with a patient for life with varying intensity and frequency of inflammation. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, the disease affects one in every 100 people, but it has been estimated that around 2.5 million Americans go undiagnosed, putting them at risk for long-term health problems such as type one diabetes, multiple sclerosis, neurological conditions, and even infertility. The disease effects people of all ages, but it generally begins and can be diagnosed in middle infancy, giving physicians time to catch it early and begin treatment.

Now, according to researchers, signs of IBS can help alert doctors of a greater likelihood a child may also have celiac disease.

According to the study, researchers determined this after analyzing data from a long-term cohort study which had diagnosed and followed-up on children with gastrointestinal disorders between 2006 and 2012. In total, 782 children with intestinal complications and abdominal pain complaints were involved in the study. Following blood tests, it was confirmed that 270 of the children has IBS, 201 had functional dyspepsia, and 311 had functional abdominal pain.

In an analysis of these children and their blood work, 4.4 percent of the children with IBS also tested positive for celiac disease. In contrast, only one percent  and 0.3 percent of the dyspepsia and abdominal pain groups respectively showed signs for celiac disease.

Knowing this, researcher concluded that celiac disease is an estimated four times more prevalent in children with IBS , than it is in the general population.

The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics on April 21.