• Integrative Medicine Research
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.99-102
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• 2014

A 37-year-old female patient with chronic and stubborn abdominal pain had been hospitalized five times in three Western hospitals, but no effects were observed. No abnormalities were found in blood tests, gastrointestinal endoscopy, sonogram, and computed tomography of the abdomen, except mild paralytic ileus. The patient decided to rely on Korean medicine as an inpatient. She was diagnosed with functional abdominal pain syndrome, and her symptom differentiation was the "Yang deficiency of spleen and kidney." A herbal drug, Hwangikyeji-tang, along with moxibustion and acupuncture, was given to the patient. Abdominal pain and related symptoms were reduced radically within 16 days of treatment. This report shows a therapeutic potential of Korean medicine-based treatment for functional abdominal pain syndrome.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제12권sup1호
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• pp.103-110
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• 2009

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are among the most common medical problems in children. Abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders can be categorized as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal migraine and childhood functional abdominal pain according to the Rome III criteria for pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this paper was to examine the evidence supporting the use of the range of therapeutic options available for functional gastrointestinal disorders.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제11권sup2호
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• pp.19-28
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• 2008

Chronic abdominal pain, defined as long-lasting intermittent or constant abdominal pain, is a common pediatric problem encountered by primary care physicians and medical subspecialists. Chronic abdominal pain in children is usually functional, i.e., without objective evidence of an underlying organic disorder. Functional abdominal pain is categorized as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, abdominal migraine, and aerophagia according to the Rome II criteria for pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders. There is insufficient evidence to state that the nature of abdominal pain or the presence of associated symptoms can discriminate between functional and organic disorders. The presence of alarming symptoms or signs, such as weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding, persistent fever, and chronic severe diarrhea, is associated with a higher prevalence of organic disease. Most children with chronic abdominal pain are unlikely to require diagnostic testing; such children often need pharmacologic and behavioral therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2006

Chronic recurrent abdominal pain is a common manifestation in children. Functional abdominal pain is the most common cause of chronic abdominal pain and can be diagnosed properly by the physician without the requirement of specific evaluation when there are no alarm symptoms or signs. Functional abdominal pain is categorized as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, abdominal migraine, and aerophagia, according to the Rome II criteria for pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders. New concepts on the pathogenesis of functional abdominal pain include brain-gut interaction, visceral hypersensitivity, gastrointestinal dysmotility, inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, genetic predisposition, and triggering factors including psycho-social stress.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.264-270
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) presented in a tertiary medical center, characteristics of patients and results of the diagnostic work-up together with an outcome during the follow up. Methods: This was a retrospective, single center, observational study including all patients who were diagnosed with FGID based on Rome III criteria from January to December 2015 in tertiary medical center. Results: Overall 294 children were included (mean age, 8.9 years [range, 1-18 years]; 165 females). Majority had functional constipation (35.4%), followed by functional abdominal pain (30.6%), irritable bowel syndrome (17.0%), functional dyspepsia (12.6%), functional nausea (3.4%) and abdominal migraine (1.0%). Regression model found that only significant factor associated with improvement of symptoms is the establishment of the functional diagnosis at the first visit (hazard ratio, 2.163; 95% confidence inverval, 1.029-4.544). There was no association between improvement of symptoms and presence of alarm signs/symptoms (weight loss, nocturnal symptoms and severe vomiting) at diagnosis. Furthermore, in pain symptoms (functional abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia) no treatment positively correlated with pain improvement. Conclusion: Regardless of the initial diagnosis of FGID, positive diagnosis at the first visit increases a chance for resolution of symptoms.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.26-32
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• 2011

Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) is a common complaint encountered in pediatric clinics and a great concern for patients and their caretakers as well as health care professionals. A constant challenge is detecting individuals with organic diseases or psychosomatic disorders from the majority of patients who have a functional disorder including functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, and abdominal migraine. Beginning with a detailed history and physical examination, physicians must determine a differential diagnosis of CAP by applying the symptom-based Rome III criteria to positively identify a functional disorder. These findings should then be further analyzed based on diagnostic clues and red flags that indicate the presence of specific organic diseases and/or the need for further testing. Once a functional diagnosis has been made or an organic disease is suspected, physicians can initiate an empiric therapeutic trial. Since psychological distress accompanies both organic and non-organic abdominal pain in children, a cooperative diagnostic approach involving pediatricians and psychiatrists is recommended.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.111-119
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• 2009

목 적: Rome III 기준을 적용하여 소아청소년 만성기능 복통 환아들을 진단하고 분류함으로써 각 아형 별특성에 대한 이해를 도모하여 임상적 적용에 도움을 주고자 하였다. 방 법: 2006년 7월부터 2007년 8월까지 만성 복통을 주소로 분당서울대학교병원 소아청소년과에 내원한 194명을 대상으로 소아청소년기 복통 설문지를 작성케 한 후 의료진이 문진과 진찰을 통해 설문답안을 수정하고 의학적 검사를 시행하여 기질적 질환을 배제한 후 전향적으로 시행하였다. 결 과: 전체 194명 중 복통 관련 기능 위장관 질환으로 확인된 환자는 167명(86.1%)이었으며, 평균 연령은 9.1${\pm}$3.2세, 복통의 유병기간은 2개월부터 85개월로 평균 17.6${\pm}$16.2개월이었고, 이 중 기능 소화불량이 49명 (29.3%)으로 가장 많았으며, 과민 대장증후군이 43명(25.7%), 복성 편두통이 13명(7.8%), 소아기 기능 복통이 45명(27.0%), 소아기 기능성 복통증후군이 21명(12.6%)이었다. 복통과 연관된 기능 위장관 질환의 진단 기준에 해당하지 않아 미분류된 환아는 17명(10.2%)이었다. 다른 아형들에 비해 소아기 기능 복통의 발병 연령이 상대적으로 낮고 진단 시까지의 유병기간이 짧았다(p<0.05). 결 론: Rome III 기준은 소아청소년 복통 관련 기능 위장관 질환의 평가에 좀더 포괄적이며 쉽게 적용할 수 있고 더 정확한 정보와 진단을 제공하여 임상적으로 유용할 것으로 생각된다.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.570-575
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Capsule endoscopy is a diagnostic method for evaluating the small bowel lumen and can detect undiagnosed lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield and clinical impact of capsule endoscopy in patients with refractory diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain. Methods: This study involved a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, maintained in a database. Patients with refractory diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain within the period of March 2012 to March 2014 were included. Capsule endoscopy was used to detect small bowel pathologies in both groups. Results: Sixty-five patients (53.8% female) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and had a mean (${\pm}$standard deviation) age of $50.9{\pm}15.9$ years. Clinically significant lesions were detected via capsule endoscopy in 32.5% of the patients in the abdominal pain group and 54.5% of the patients in the diarrhea group. Overall, 48% of patients had small bowel pathologies detected during the capsule endoscopy study. Inflammatory lesions and villous atrophy were the most frequent lesions identified in 16.9% and 15.3% of patients in the abdominal pain and the diarrhea groups, respectively. Conclusions: Routine use of capsule endoscopy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome should not be recommended. However, in patients with refractory conditions, capsule endoscopy may identify abnormalities.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.510-518
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• 2022

Purpose: Recently, great interest has been focused on dietary fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) for the treatment of functional abdominal pain (FAP). Several meta-analyses, including those on the adult population, have been published, potentiating its role. However, pediatric studies are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a low-FODMAP diet on the severity of FAP in children. Methods: This clinical trial included 50 patients aged 3-18 years with irritable bowel syndrome and FAP that were not otherwise specified. The patients were instructed to receive a low FODMAP diet guided by a dietitian. The primary outcome was the percentage of responders after 2 months of dietary intervention compared with baseline. Other outcomes included changes in stool consistency and quality of life (QoL) scores using the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire, and weight-for-age z-scores. Results: After the dietary intervention, 74% of patients showed more than 30% lower pain intensity, as examined using the Wong-Baker Faces pain rating scale. Their QoL significantly improved, and patients have gained weight. Conclusion: A low FODMAP diet can improve pain intensity and QoL among children with functional abdominal pain, with no detrimental effects on body weight.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.129-137
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children who presented with nonorganic acute abdominal pain. Methods: A retrospective, single study was conducted on 2-15-year-old children diagnosed with nonorganic acute abdominal pain at the pediatric outpatient department of Vajira Hospital, Nawamindradhiraj University, between January 2015 and December 2019. The potential risk factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Of the 367 patients with nonorganic acute abdominal pain, 94 (25.6%) experienced RAP within three months. In this group with RAP, 76 patients (80.8%) were diagnosed with functional gastrointestinal disorders, including functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain-not otherwise specified, and functional constipation. History of gastrointestinal infection (p=0.011), mental health problems (p=0.022), abdominal pain lasting ≥7 days (p<0.001), and change in stool frequency (p=0.001) were the independent risk factors associated with RAP in children with nonorganic acute abdominal pain; their odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 3.364 (1.314-8.162), 3.052 (1.172-7.949), 3.706 (1.847-7.435), and 2.649 (1.477-4.750), respectively. Conclusion: RAP is a common problem among children who first present with nonorganic acute abdominal pain. The identification of risk factors may provide proper management, especially follow-up plans for this group in the future.