Association of Gastrointestinal Problems and Behavioral Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Pediatrics and Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics in Suez Canal University Hospital

Abstract

Background: Dysfunction of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is one of the most frequent problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Objectives: To assess the propagation of GIT problems in autism spectrum disorder kids and its correlation with their behavioral  problems.

Patients and Methods: This case-control study included 50 children with ASD matched with 50 healthy kids with the same age and gender. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developed children, were interviewed to fill out the checklists  about their behavior and GIT symptoms, then the collected data were tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software.

Results: All  autism spectrum disorder group had significantly greater produce of the following symptoms: vomiting, constipation, soiling, reflux,  and abdominal pain than typically developed group, with statistically significant differences. Also, autism spectrum disorder group had  significantly longer duration of constipation, soiling, reflux, and abdominal pain than typically developed group. Medication used showed  statistically significant difference among study groups as more than half autism spectrum disorder group used laxatives. Autism  spectrum disorder had significantly greater mean values than typically developed group on the following CBCL scales: withdrawn,  somatic complaints, anxious, social, thought, attention, aggressive behavior, internalizing problem, externalizing problem, and total  problem, while delinquent behavior was significantly higher among typically developed than autism spectrum disorder group.  

Conclusions: Children with autism spectrum disorder are at greater risk of some behavioral and GIT problems which need a special care  as compared to typical development (TD) children.