[Gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatric patients with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders].
BACKGROUND
Only a few studies have addressed the subject of physical manifestations in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and gastrointestinal (GI) complaints, although pharmacological treatments for ADHD may have GI symptoms as a main side effect.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to assess whether children with ADHD have a higher frequency of GI symptoms compared with healthy children in the general population.


METHODS
The study group included 62 children with ADHD and 57 healthy children as a control group. The childrens' parents were asked to report on abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, encopresis, food intolerance or allergy. Height, weight and the medical data of the two groups were compared.


RESULTS
A higher frequency of food allergies was found in the ADHD group, but the relationship was at near significant levels only (p = 0.06), and open to criticism.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed no obvious correlation between GI symptoms and ADHD in Israeli children.
Almog
Merav
M
Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.
Gabis
Lidia V
LV
Shefer
Shahar
S
Bujanover
Yoram
Y
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male