title: Epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome in children and adolescents in Asia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several cross-sectional surveys have been conducted to study the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review and a meta-analysis of published literature to estimate the prevalence of IBS among Asian children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer-assisted search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and regional databases of Asia was carried out. Selected articles were reviewed in depth and data were extracted. Pooled prevalence, sex differences, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using the I(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 16 cross-sectional studies that reported prevalence of IBS (in children and adolescents) and qualified to be included were taken into the final analysis containing 38,076 patients. Selected studies are from China, Korea, Japan, Iran, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia. Studies showed a marked heterogeneity with I(2) of 98.59 (P < 0.0001). Prevalence of IBS ranges from 2.8% to 25.7%, with a pooled prevalence of 12.41% (95% confidence interval 9.87-14.95). Prevalence risk ratio of girl:boy is 1.39. Prevalence of subtypes is diverse and varies between studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The published data indicate that IBS is a significant problem among Asian children and adolescents. Female sex predisposes children and adolescents to develop IBS.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Physiology †Department of Pediatrics ‡Department of Public Health §Department of Library ||Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Thalagolla Road, Ragama, Sri Lanka ¶Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Niranga M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Devanarayana
authors.forename: Shaman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajindrajith
authors.forename: Arunasalam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pathmeswaran
authors.forename: Chithra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abegunasekara
authors.forename: Nipul K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Gunawardena
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Benninga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence