Incidence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children with Autism: A Population-Based Study

Gastrointestinal disorders in autistic children likely related to behavioral issues: A study in the August, 2009 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics compared the incidence of a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic children with a control group of children who do not have autism. Constipation and difficulties with feeding and food choice were more common in the autistic children, but there was no difference in other gastrointestinal problems. The researchers concluded that there was likely a neurobehavioral rather than a primary organic gastrointestinal cause for these symptoms in autistic children.