Prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism and autistic spectrum disorders
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in a general population of children with autism or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). The study site was a clinic specializing in ASD in a large pediatric medical center serving a 10 county area in the midwestern USA. In a sample of 137 children, age 24-96 months, classified as having autism or ASD by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic, 24 percent had a history of at least one chronic gastrointestinal symptom. The most common symptom was diarrhea, which occurred in 17 percent. There was no association between chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of developmental regression. The potential phenotypic association between autism and gastrointestinal symptoms is discussed.
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In studies on 140-170 children with ASD, 24-63% had a history of at least one GI symptom, including diarrhea or unformed stools, constipation, bloating, and/or gastroesophageal reflux.
“In the literature, we have found in-depth studies on 140–170 children with ASD, of which 24–63% had a history of at least one GI symptom, including: diarrhea or unformed stools, constipation, bloating, and/or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) [31,125,131,132].”
From Autism, Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Nutritional Interventions (2019) · cites this paper as [125]
The prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in ASD varies from 23% to 70%.
“Although the connection between gastrointestinal problems and autism is still not resolved and the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms varies from 23 to 70% [31,125,126,127,128,129].”
From Autism, Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Nutritional Interventions (2019) · cites this paper as [125]
Alternating constipation and diarrhea has been reported in children with ASD.
“Alternating constipation and diarrhea has also been reported in this population 17.”
From Gastrointestinal Issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder (2020) · cites this paper as [17]
This distribution is congruent with some studies of GI symptoms in ASD, with diarrhea occurring 1.5-2 times more than constipation.
“This is congruent with some studies of GI symptoms in ASD, with diarrhea occurring 1.5–2 times more than constipation [9, 94, 95]”
From Pilot study of probiotic/colostrum supplementation on gut function in children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms (2019) · cites this paper as [94]
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- Authors
- Molloy, C. A., & Manning-Courtney, P.
- Affiliations
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, USA
- Corresponding author
- Molloy, Cynthia A.
- Venue
- Autism
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2003-06
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 165-171
- ISSN
- 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7005
- OpenAlex
- W2167302146
- Cited by
- 249
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 2.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Autism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (T32ES90957)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, children, prevalence, diarrhea, developmental regression, phenotypic association, children with autism
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Child, Child, Preschool, Chronic Disease, Constipation, Diarrhea, Flatulence, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Humans, Phenotype, United States, Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Prevalence
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