The Belgian consensus on irritable bowel syndrome: the paediatric gastroenterologist view

Abstract

The Belgian consensus on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults published in this issue offered us, as Belgian paediatric gastroenterologists, an opportunity to underline the differences in approach between adults and children and adolescents with IBS. Prevalence of IBS in childhood is reported between 1.2 and 5.4 %. A more recent article communicates a worldwide pooled prevalence of 13.8% (1,2). Bias exists since not all studies differentiate between the different Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders (FAPDs) (IBS, functional dyspepsia, abdominal migraine and functional abdominal pain not otherwise specified) or apply the same ROME criteria (II, III, IV) (Table 1) (2).