Browsing by Author "Pannala, W."

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Bowel habits of Sri Lankan children and adolescents
(Wiley Blackwell Scientific Publications, 2008) Rajindrajith, S.; Adikari, C.; Pannala, W.; Devanarayana, N.M.
INTRODUCTION: Bowel habits vary greatly around the world, depending on food consumption and genetic factors. Thorough understanding of normal bowel habits is essential for correct diagnosis of defecation disorders which are common in paediatric age group. Main objective of this study was to evaluate normal bowel habits of Sri Lankan school children. METHOD: Normal children aged 10–16 years, without defecation disorders (e.g. diarrhoea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and non-retentive faecal soiling), were randomly selected from 5 schools in 4 districts in Sri Lanka. Details regarding their bowel habits of previous two months were collected using a pre-tested, self administered questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 2273 children were recruited (male 50%, mean age 13.25 years, SD 1.7 years). Of them 1710 (75%) opened bowels once daily, while 153 (6.7%) and 11 (0.5%) had bowel motions less than 3 per week and more than 3 per day respectively. Stool consistency was normal in 1925 (84.6%), hard in 86 (3.7%), and 163 (7%) had changing consistency. Straining was present in 641 (28%), painful defecation in 273 (10.5%) and bleeding in 49 (2%). One hundred and four (4.6%) children reported stool withholding behaviour. Bulky stool was present in 156 (7%), while faecal soiling was seen in 15 (0.6%). Hard stools, bulky stools, faecal soiling and straining were commoner in males, whereas, painful defecation and withholding behaviour were common among females (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hard stools, bulky stools, faecal soiling and straining were commoner in males, whereas, painful defecation and withholding behaviour were common among females (p < 0.05).
Constipation and functional faecal retention in Sri Lankan school children and adolescents
(Wiley Blackwell Scientific Publications, 2008) Rajindrajith, S.; Adikari, C.; Pannala, W.; Devanarayana, N.M.
INTRODUCTION: Constipation is a common paediatric problem, but little is known regarding it’s prevalence in Asia. AIMS : To assess prevalence of constipation and functional faecal retention among Sri Lankan school children and adolescents. MATERIALS: This is a cross sectional survey. A validated, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected children, aged 10–16 years, in 4 randomly selected schools, in 3 geographically and socioeconomically different Provinces in Sri Lanka. Constipation was defined using Rome III criteria and Paris Consensus on Childhood Constipation Terminology (PACCT). Functional faecal retention was diagnosed using Rome II criteria. RESULTS: A total of 2770 questionnaires were distributed and 2699 (97.4%) were included in the analysis [1368 (50.6%) males, mean age 13.17 years, SD 1.72 years]. According to Rome III criteria and PACCT, 416 (15.4%) and 353 (13.1%) had constipation respectively [the agreement Cohen’s kappa (k) = 0.895, p < 0.0001]. Prevalence of constipation was higher in males than in females according to both PACCT (15.1% vs. 11%, p = 0.002) and Rome III criteria (16.8% vs. 14%, p = 0.047). The majority had family history of constipation (p < 0.0001). Straining, bleeding per rectum, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and weight loss were significantly higher in the affected children (p < 0.001). Hundred and ten (4.1%) had functional faecal retention, of them 104 (94.5%) also fulfilled Rome III criteria for constipation (k = 0.402, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic constipation is a significant problem affecting 13–15% of Sri Lankan school children and adolescents. Constipation is commoner among males. Both Rome III criteria and PACCT are effective in diagnosing childhood constipation in epidemiological studies
Constipation in children: an epidemiological study in Sri Lanka using Rome III criteria
(British Medical Association, 2012) Rajindrajith, S.; Devanarayana, N.M.; Adhikari, C.; Pannala, W.; Benninga, M.A.
Constipation is a common paediatric problem, but its prevalence in Asia is unknown. A cross-sectional survey using a previously validated, self-administered questionnaire was conducted in randomly selected children aged 10-16 years, in five randomly selected schools in Sri Lanka. Two schools were in Eastern Province, which has been affected by the separatist war. Constipation was defined using Rome III criteria. Of 2694 children included in the analysis, 416 (15.4%) had constipation. Symptoms independently associated with constipation were straining (71.6% vs 28.4% of controls), bleeding per rectum (14.2% vs 2.2%) and abdominal pain (55% vs 35.2%). The prevalence of constipation was significantly higher in those with a family history of constipation (49% vs 14.8%), living in a war affected area (18.1% vs 13.7%) and attending an urban school (16.7% vs 13.3%). In conclusion, chronic constipation is a significant problem affecting 15% of Sri Lankan school children and adolescents.
Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal diseases among a cohort of Sri Lankan school children aged 12 to 16 years
(Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 2009) Devanarayana, N.M.; Adikari, C.; Pannala, W.; Rajindrajith, S.
INTRODUCTION: Even though functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation, are common among children and adolescents around the world, little is known regarding their prevalence in developing countries including Sri Lanka. The current symptom based criteria (Rome III criteria) were released in 2006 and are still not widely used fay paediatricians for positive diagnosis of FGID. OBJECTIVES: To assess prevalence of FGID among a group of Sri Lankan adolescents using Rome III criteria. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHOD: This is a cross sectional survey conducted in a randomly selected group of 12-16 year olds in a semi-urban school in Gampaha district. A validated, self-administered questionnaire (developed on Rome III criteria for FGID in children) was distributed after obtaining consent from the school administration and the parents. It was administered in an examination setting, to ensure confidentiality and privacy. The questionnaire was in Sinhala, the first language of the cohort. The questions were simple and easy to understand. Research assistants were present during the whole time with students while they were filling the questionnaires and explanations were given whenever the need arose. FGID were diagnosed using Rome III criteria. RESULTS: A total of 464 questionnaires was distributed and 427 (92%) were included in the analysis [214 (50.1%) males, mean age 14.42 years, SD 1.27 years]. Thirty seven incompletely filled questionnaires were excluded from the analysis. According to Rome III criteria, 123 (28.8%) had at least one FGID. Of them, 58 (13.6%) had abdominal pain related FGID [irritable bowel syndrome 30 (7%), functional dyspepsia 14 (3.3%), functional abdominal pain 12 (2.8%) and abdominal migraine 2 (0.46%). Prevalence of functional constipation was 4.2% (18). Aerophagia was seen in 27 (6.3%), while adolescent rumination syndrome was seen in 17 (3.9%). Nonretentive faecal incontinence [1 (0.23%)] and cyclical vomiting syndrome [2 (0.46%)] were rare in our group of school children. There was no age or sex difference in the prevalence of any of the above FGID (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are a significant problem in our group of school children, affecting more than a quarter of them. Irritable bowel syndrome is the commonest FGID diagnosed.
Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal diseases in a cohort of Sri Lankan adolescents: comparison between Rome II and Rome III criteria
(Oxford University Press, 2011) Devanarayana, N.M.; Adhikari, C.; Pannala, W.; Rajindrajith, S.
Little is known about the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGDs) in adolescents, especially in developing countries. This cross-sectional survey conducted in a semi-urban school in Sri Lanka, assessed the prevalence of whole spectrum of FGDs in 427 adolescents (age 12-16 years) using a validated self-administered questionnaire. According to Rome III criteria, 123 (28.8%) adolescents had FGDs. Of them, 59 (13.8%) had abdominal-pain-related FGDs [irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 30, functional dyspepsia 15, functional abdominal pain 13 and abdominal migraine 1]. Prevalence of functional constipation, aerophagia, adolescent rumination syndrome, cyclical vomiting syndrome and non-retentive faecal incontinence were 4.2, 6.3, 4, 0.5 and 0.2%, respectively. Only 58 (13.6%) adolescents were found to have FGDs when Rome II criteria were used. In conclusion, FGDs were present in more than one-fourth of adolescents in the study group, of which IBS was the most common. Rome III criteria were able to diagnose FGDs more comprehensively than Rome II.