Screening of gastrointestinal symptoms and celiac disease in children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the GIT manifestation in Autistic children and relate it to the degree of autism to demonstrate the possible connection between celiac disease and autism. An observational cross-sectional study with analytic component was carried out on 114 children with autism spectrum disorder above 3 years who visited to Phoniatric Unit, Mansoura University Hospitals and were separated into three groups according to DSM-V each of them contained 38 children, group I (children with level I ASD), group II (children with level II ASD), and group III (children with level III ASD). Results Fifty percent of ASD children in the studied groups showed at least one GIT symptom. Constipation was the most common symptom. The existence of gastrointestinal signs was shown to have a substantial link with the severity of autism. None of the youngsters had celiac disease. Conclusion Gastrointestinal issues are frequent in ASD children and may lead to ASD behavioral symptoms. It is possible that children with more severe autism are more prone to suffer from gastrointestinal issues, and the other way around. This research found no evidence to demonstrate a connection between autism spectrum disorder and celiac illness.

Keywords

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Celiac disease
• Gastrointestinal dysregulation