Association Between Colonic Symptoms and Inattention/Hyperactivity in British Children

Background: Functional faecal retention and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are common in childhood. There is some evidence, mostly from clinical samples, of an association between them. Methods: The association between parental reports of inattention/hyperactivity and colonic symptoms in children between four and ten years of age was examined using the Health Survey for England 2000. Results: Boys were about twice as likely to be rated by their parents as inattentive/hyperactive if they had colon symptoms. Conclusions: This study adds to existing evidence associating bowel function and behavioural symptoms, especially in boys. Given the high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in general, and the increasing personal and societal impact of childhood behavioural problems, further exploration of the relationship is warranted, with particular attention to causal pathways. Key Practitioner Message: Colonic symptoms often co-exist with hyperactivity and inattention in boys. Causal pathways remain to be investigated. When evaluating boys presenting with these behavioural symptoms, inquiry into bowel function would be worthwhile