Paediatric Gut Investigation Clinic can carry out investigations to determine whether your child is suffering from Irritable bowel syndrome via our private clinics in Dorking and Medwyn, Surrey.
Although more common in adults, children can also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome with an estimated 5% to 20% of kids suffering from IBS. The good news though is that, although it is an irritating condition, it can be managed and it shouldn’t impact on the activities that children want to take part in.
IBS symptoms include abdominal discomfort and bloating, variable bowel habits between constipation and diarrhoea. The abdominal discomfort tends to get better after passing stool. The stools sometimes contain mucous. Sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome often complain about the feeling of incomplete defaecation.
More common in females than males, no one really knows what causes IBS, although it tends to run in families. Stress and what children eat can be a trigger for irritable bowel syndrome, but this will vary from child to child. For example, a high-fat diet may bother some children but not others.
Although each child’s food triggers may be a little different, here are some common ones that have been proven to affect children suffering from IBS :
- big meals
- spicy foods
- high-fat foods
- chocolate
- some dairy products like ice cream or cheese
Patients who are labelled with “IBS” may have underlying food intolerance such as sucrose or fructose or a small bowel bacterial overgrowth. It is therefore important to rule out these conditions before concluding a diagnosis of IBS.
The management of IBS is through lifestyle changes, avoidance of trigger foods, and managing stress. Low FODMAP (Fermentable Oligo Dimonosaccharides and Polyols) may be beneficial in some patient groups.
IBS is a different condition to general food intolerance in children, which Paediatric Gut Investigation Clinic also provide investigation and treatment for.
Our private clinic in Charlwood is perfectly located to see patients from all nearby areas, including Chichester, Banstead, Dorking, Epsom, Guildford, Redhill, Southampton, Portsmouth, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, and Epsom.
If you are concerned that your child is suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, please book an appointment with us today via the form below or, alternatively, please call us on 0129 3365012.