Gastrointestinal phenotype of children with allergies
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do children with allergic diseases have a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms compared to normal population?
IRAS ID
275646
Contact name
Jenny Epstein
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), such as constipation, heartburn, chronic abdominal pain, and diarrhoea, are common in the paediatric population. About one child or adolescent in five has a diagnosis of at least one FGID. Several studies in adults have shown there might be an association between allergic diseases and FGIDs. However, there are only limited data from the paediatric population and, to the best of our knowledge, there is no study describing the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of children with allergic diseases.
With our study, we want to explore whether GI symptoms are more common in children with allergic diseases compared to children without allergies. We also want to describe what types of GI symptoms tend to occur more often in children with allergies and to compare the prevalence of these symptoms in children with allergies to the general paediatric population. Furthermore, we want to understand how the quality of life of patients with allergies is affected by the presence of GI symptoms.
In this study, the carers of children aged 0–16 years who had a paediatric allergy consultation in a central London location and the carers of children who had a GP consultation in a local GP surgery will be asked to complete an online questionnaire with a detailed allergy, gastrointestinal and feeding history. Data will be used to describe GI signs and symptoms of children with allergic diseases and will be compared with data from the children belonging to the general paediatric population.
We are hoping to describe for the first time the GI symptoms and feeding patterns of children with allergic diseases, to provide a better understanding of signs and symptoms which may precede allergic manifestations and to inform evidence-based clinical practice in paediatric allergy.Summary of Results
Diarrhoea and abdominal pain are significantly more prevalent among children with allergies compared to the general paediatric population. Parents of allergic children reported concerns about growth, eating and weaning and problems such as eating refusal, stomach-ache, fear of eating, rushing to the toilet, gagging, and feeling bloated. Gastrointestinal symptoms affect the quality of life of these children, with a great impact on their daily activities, sleep and mood.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/PR/0845
Date of REC Opinion
14 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion