Jennifer V. Schurman1, Craig A. Friesen2, Caroline Elder Danda3, Linda Andre2, Elly Welchert2, Teri Lavenbarg3, Jose Cocjin3, Paul E. Hyman3
1Sections of Developmental Behavioral Sciences Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City Missouri
2Sections of Gastroenterology Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City Missouri
3Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
Tóm tắt
ABSTRACTObjectives:To compare the Rome II diagnoses made in children with recurrent abdominal pain by physicians and by parent and child responses on the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Rates of diagnostic agreement and reasons for disagreement were examined to determine whether changes to the Rome II criteria are needed to improve diagnostic classification.Methods:One hundred and forty‐eight children and their parents or guardians completed the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms during their first visit to a pediatric gastroenterology clinic. Parent‐ and child‐report Rome II diagnoses were based on Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms scoring criteria, whereas the physician's Rome II diagnosis was based on clinical impression from history and physical examination completed at this visit. Statistical comparisons involved Pearson χ2 tests and Fisher exact tests. Kappa and weighted kappa measured agreement rates.Results:Most children met the criteria for a functional gastrointestinal disorder based on the Rome II criteria. Functional dyspepsia was the most common diagnosis made by all three sources. The percentage of children classified as “no diagnosis” was small and was often a function of symptom duration (especially when diagnosis rested on the child self‐report). Diagnostic agreement was fair to moderate. Diagnoses based on parent and child questionnaires agreed more often on functional dyspepsia than irritable bowel syndrome. Diagnostic disagreement was most likely to result from parent and child disagreement on defecation symptoms.Conclusions:The Rome II classification system shows promise for improving diagnosis, study and treatment of children with recurrent abdominal pain. However, further refinement and clarification of the Rome II criteria for symptom duration and frequency may be needed to improve diagnostic agreement.
