Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children in Wuhu, China Was Not Associated with Infection, but Associated with <1 h/day Physical Activity and Academic Stress

Background: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between RAP and infection in children in Wuhu, China as well as the risk factors for infection in this region.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, we randomly selected children aged 6-17 years who underwent health examinations at three public hospital examination centers in Wuhu city, Anhui Province, China. infection was assessed by a C-urea breath test (UBT) kit. Questionnaires were custom designed to obtain data on behavioral, sociodemographic, and environmental characteristics, and to investigate the relationship between RAP and infection in children.

Results: A total of 1,187 children aged 6-17 years were enrolled, among these children, 182 were diagnosed with RAP, with an incidence rate of 15.3%. A total of 266 children were infected with , with an infection rate of 22.4%. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that physical activity for <1 h/day and academic stress are associated with RAP in children, whereas infection, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and fast-food consumption are not associated with RAP in children. Our research also found that the risk of infection increases with age in children. Risk factors for in children include left-behind children, poor hygiene habits, family history of infection, and mother with low cultural levels.

Conclusions: Recurrent abdominal pain in children in Wuhu, China was not associated with infection, but strongly associated with <1 h/day physical activity and academic stress.