Regional and seasonal variations in functional abdominal pain and functional constipation prevalence among Saudi children

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate functional abdominal pain disorders and functional constipation prevalence in the central region of Saudi Arabia, and compare it to that of the western region. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using online questionnaires targeting the general population of Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects were randomly selected by sharing links on social media groups. Any parent with a 3–18-year-old child was included, and children with chronic medical illnesses or symptoms of organic GI disorders were excluded. Results: Three hundred nineteen subjects were included in the final analysis; the prevalence of functional abdominal pain disorders overall was 6.2% and the prevalence of functional constipation was 8.1%. Conclusions: Functional constipation diagnosis seems to be affected by life stressors or a previous viral illness. Seasonal variations had minimal effect on functional abdominal pain disorder and functional constipation symptom frequency and severity.