Children with autism are far more likely than others to have ongoing gastrointestinal issues and these tummy troubles are often linked to other challenges ranging from sleep to behavior.
New research finds that kids on the spectrum experienced more GI symptoms at every age, they often had multiple symptoms at once and the issues frequently persisted across childhood. In many cases there was not a medical cause identified for the symptoms.
For the study, researchers followed 475 children, 322 with autism and 153 without. Developmental and behavioral pediatricians conducted interviews with families using a gastrointestinal history questionnaire at multiple points when the children were between the ages of 2 and 12. This allowed for the first-ever analysis of GI symptoms in kids with autism stretching from early to middle childhood, the researchers said.
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Nearly half of kids with autism reported GI symptoms during at least one point in the study, with 30% indicating that they had issues at all three interviews, according to findings published recently in the journal Autism. By contrast, more than 60% of typically-developing children had no issues during the study.
“For parents, this study validates what many have long observed: that GI symptoms are very common in children with autism,” said Bibiana Restrepo, a developmental pediatrician at the UC Davis MIND Institute who led the study. “Clinicians should ask about these issues in routine visits, because effective treatment may help children feel better and thrive.”
Among kids who reported regular stomach and digestive issues, the study found an association with higher rates of sleep challenges, anxiety, irritability, communication difficulties, sensory sensitivities and repetitive behaviors.
“This is a reminder that the brain and the body are deeply connected,” said Christine Wu Nordahl, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the study’s senior author. “When children are experiencing stomach pain or other GI problems, it doesn’t just affect digestion. It can influence sleep, mood, and how they interact with the world around them.”
The researchers said they are hopeful that their findings will lead to more collaboration between pediatricians, gastroenterologists and autism specialists.
“Supporting gastrointestinal health is one important step toward improving overall quality of life for children with autism,” Nordahl said.
