Children suffering from autism may be far more likely to also have upset stomachs than those without autism, according to a new study from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the study the researchers reviewed data collected as part of the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (CHARGE) study.
They surveyed the parents of 1000 children between the ages of 24 and 60 months and asked for detailed information about their gastrointestinal health history and their behavioral history. They found that kids with autism were as much as eight times more likely to suffer chronic upset stomachs.
"The GI problems they experience may be bidirectional. GI problems may create behavior problems, and those behavior problems may create or exacerbate GI problems. One way to try to tease this out would be to begin investigating the effects of various treatments and their effects on both GI symptoms and problem behaviors," the researchers explained in their report.
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