Pediatric Gastroenterology - Mona Dave, MD

Digestive Health & Nutrition in Children

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
Acid Reflux
Allergies
Autism
Celiac Disease
Child Health
Colon Cancer
Crohn’s Disease
Diarrhea
Endoscopy
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Events
Exercise
Failure to thrive (FTT)
Fatty Liver Disease
Flu
Food Allergy
Gastroenterology
Gluten Disease
Heartburn
Infection
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Nutrition
Obesity
Pediatrics
Peptic Ulcers
procedures
Ulcerative Colitis
Viruses
Walk With a Doc
Walk with Doc
Yoga

Plano & Southlake Offices 972-265-8222
Fax 972-265-8224

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+

online appointment request patient portal layer

  • Home
  • Dr. Dave
    • About Our Practice
  • Gallery
    • Video Gallery
    • Image Gallery
  • Digestive Disorders
    • Child’s Digestive System
    • Abdominal (Belly) Pain
    • Constipation
    • Celiac Disease
    • Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)
    • Diarrhea
    • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
    • Failure to Thrive
    • Fatty Liver Disease
    • Food Allergies
    • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
    • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
      • Crohn’s Disease (CD)
      • Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
    • Peptic Ulcer
  • Procedures
    • EGD-Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
    • Instructions for Upper GI Endoscopy
    • Colonoscopy
    • Instruction for Lower GI Endoscopy
  • Nutrition
    • Fiber Intake in Children
    • Sugar Intake in Children
    • Digestive System
  • Testimonials
  • Information
    • About Our Practice
    • Blog
    • Patient Forms
    • Preprocedure Instructions for Upper GI Endoscopy
    • Preprocedure Instructions for Lower GI Endoscopy
    • Patient Portal
    • HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Sitemap
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Plano Office
    • Southlake Office
    • Careers
You are here: Home / Gastroenterology / Could Your Child Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Could Your Child Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

April 27, 2017 By Mona Dave

IBS is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, which is a problem with the way the large intestine or colon works. IBS is not a disease, but rather it consists of symptoms that occur simultaneously. The most common symptom of IBS is functional abdominal pain (i.e., pain that cannot be explained by any detectable abnormality) coupled with diarrhea, constipation, or both.

Studies show that 5–20% of children report symptoms of IBS, with boys and girls being equally affected. A child who is growing normally, and has no known injury or disease, may be diagnosed with IBS if they are experiencing abdominal discomfort at least once a week for two months, especially in conjunction with changes in bowel movement frequency or consistency.

Causes of IBS

The cause of IBS is not certain; however, researchers believe that a combination of both physical and mental factors can contribute to IBS. Some possible triggers include:

  • Diet (spicy or fatty foods, caffeine, dairy, and consuming large meals can bring on IBS symptoms)
  • Stress, anxiety, or depression
  • Hypersensitivity of the bowel
  • Problems with the signal between the brain and the intestinal nerves
  • Bacterial gastroenteritis (irritation or infection caused by bacteria in the stomach or intestines)
  • Lactose or gluten intolerance
  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO (an increase in the normal amount or type of bacteria in the small intestine)
  • Problem with the way food moves through the GI tract (slow or fast movement or spasms can cause pain and diarrhea)
  •  Family history (studies show that patients with IBS have a higher rate of GI problems in their family history)

Symptoms of IBS

While every child is different, some common symptoms of IBS include a change in frequency or consistency of bowel movements, or an improvement in pain level when a bowel movement occurs. Other symptoms include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Mucus in the bowel movement
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Feeling as if the bowels are not emptied after a bowel movement
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Loss of appetite

How to Treat It

Treatment of IBS involves alleviating symptoms to restore normal daily function. Your child’s treatment may vary depending on:

  • Age, health, and medical history
  • Severity of symptoms
  • Tolerance of procedures or medications
  • Parental preference

Diet and nutrition play an important role in managing IBS. Eating smaller, more frequent meals and keeping a diary of bothersome foods can help lessen symptoms and identify triggers.

The low-FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet is a new approach to treating IBS. FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates that produce gas due to poor absorption in the small intestine. When limited (not eliminated) in the diet, a majority of patients reported improvements in their IBS symptoms. A low-FODMAP diet is not intended to be used long term. A supervised diet that lasts about 6–8 weeks, in which foods are gradually reintroduced, has been shown to benefit patients with IBS. Consult your doctor before starting any new food regiment.

Other treatments for alleviating symptoms of IBS include:

  • Stress management, such as talk therapy or hypnotherapy
  • Medication (your doctor may recommend laxatives, fiber supplements, antispasmodics, antidiarrheals, or antidepressants depending on your child’s symptoms, but consult your doctor before giving your child any over-the-counter medicines for IBS)
  • Probiotics (live bacteria similar to the natural bacteria in the GI tract, which come in tablet, pill, or powder form—your doctor can advise you on the proper amount to improve IBS symptoms)

If you would like more information about gastrointestinal (GI) digestive disorders and nutrition in children, please contact Dr. Mona Dave’s Plano Office or Southlake Office.

 

Filed Under: Gastroenterology, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Tagged With: Causes of IBS, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Symptoms of IBS

Digestive Health & Nutrition in Children

Southlake and plano office

Our offices are convienently located in Plano and Southlake, TX. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of patient care. Dr. Dave and her staff work extremely hard to streamline the referral process, expedite appointment scheduling, and promptly respond to patient calls. Her practice offers a pure pediatric environment. A pediatric trained … Dr. Manisha "Mona" Dave

MOM-APPROVED DOCTOR – DFW CHILD MAGAZINE

Manisha “Mona” Harpavat Dave, MD Pediatric Gastroenterologist Digestive Health & Nutrition in Children Diplomate Certification in Pediatric Gastroenterology Diplomate, American Board of Pediatrics Awards and Honors          Scientific Research Plano Office 6300 W Parker Rd, Bldg 2, Suite 424 Plano, TX 75093 Phone: … Dr. Mona Dave

Belly Pain in Kids

Abdominal pain in kids

Abdominal (belly) pain in children is a common condition and, while not generally a serious problem, one that can cause considerable discomfort. Approximately 30% of children visit a doctor due to abdominal pain by age 15, and 10-15% of school aged children report recurring abdominal pain. Because abdominal pain can have a wide variety of causes, diagnosis can often be … Belly Pain

Celiac Disease in Children

Celiac disease (CD, Celiac Sprue, Gluten Intolerance) in children tends to have digestive disorders that may result in growth problems. Celiac disease prevents the body from absorbing essential nutrients (nutrient malabsorption) resulting in diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal distention, failure to thrive and muscle wasting. Celiac disease in teenagers may not occur … Celiac Disease

Video Gallery

Image Gallery Dr. Mona Dave's image gallery contains a sampling of images displayed … Video

PEDIATRIC GI BLOG

Spoonful!

A FREE App for People with Gluten Issues Erin Heidenreich, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist … Pediatric GI News

Superfoods

You are what you eat! Your health is directly related to the types of foods that go into your … Pediatric GI News

Walk with a Doc Live Q&A

This week, we’ll be hosting our first ever live Q&A webinar!  Walk with a Doc will be … Pediatric GI News

Archives

CATEGORIES

  • Acid Reflux
  • Allergies
  • Autism
  • Celiac Disease
  • Child Health
  • Colon Cancer
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Diarrhea
  • Endoscopy
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis
  • Events
  • Exercise
  • Failure to thrive (FTT)
  • Fatty Liver Disease
  • Flu
  • Food Allergy
  • Gastroenterology
  • Gluten Disease
  • Heartburn
  • Infection
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Nutrition
  • Obesity
  • Pediatrics
  • Peptic Ulcers
  • procedures
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Viruses
  • Walk With a Doc
  • Walk with Doc
  • Yoga

Digestive Health & Nutrition

Manisha “Mona” Dave, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Texas Digestive Disease Consultants
 

Plano Office 
6300 W Parker Rd, Bldg 2, Suite 424
Plano, TX 75093

Southlake Office
505 South Nolen Drive
Southlake, TX 76092

Privacy Policy

Plano Map

Southlake Map

Online Appointment Request 972-265-8222
Fax 972-265-8224

Careers

CONNECT WITH US

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

* indicates required

Serving the Texas communities of Allen, Alliance, Bedford, Carrollton, Colleyville, Coppell, Dallas, Euless, Flower Mound, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, Grapevine, Haslet, Hurst, Keller, Lewisville, McKinney, North Richland Hills, North Tarrant, Plano, Richardson, Roanoke, Southlake, Trophy Club, Watauga, Westlake, and more!

Copyright 2016. | All Rights Reserved. | Mona Dave.