Did they check the school for MOLD ......

[Guest guest]

Isn't it peculiar, GIRLS are affected more so than the boys wonder

what the difference is relating to the blood-brain barrier is between

boys and girls? ......hmmm

http://lib.bioinfo.pl/auth:,DG

Predictors of abdominal pain in schoolchildren: A 4-year population-

based prospective study.

[My paper] A El-Metwally, Smita Ls Halder, G , J

Macfarlane, Gareth T

BACKGROUND: Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) is common among

schoolchildren and is a major cause of school absenteeism and medical

care visits. On physical examination, an obvious organic cause is

seldom found and risk factors contributing to onset are still largely

unknown. AIMS: To determine the frequency of onset of CAP in

schoolchildren and to investigate risk factors for its development.

METHODS: 1411 schoolchildren aged 11-14 years were recruited from

schools in North-West England. Information was collected regarding

recent pain symptoms and a group of children free of abdominal pain

were identified. Information was collected on potential risk factors

for the development of CAP: weight, height, headache, sore throat,

low back pain, daytime tiredness, level of physical activity,

lifestyle factors, psychosocial factors and enjoyment of school.

Participants were followed-up 1 and 4 years later and new episodes of

CAP were identified. RESULTS: 22% reported new-onset abdominal pain

at 1-year follow-up which persisted at 4-year follow-up (CAP).

Development of CAP was almost three times higher in girls than boys

(34% versus 13%; chi2: 26.0; p<0.001). In girls, reporting headache

at baseline was the only predictive factor for CAP onset: those who

reported headaches on >7days in the month prior to the baseline

survey experienced a doubling in the risk of symptom onset (relative

risk: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 0.95-4.7). In contrast, in boys,

development of CAP was independently predicted by: daytime tiredness

(3.0; 1.2-7.6), lack of school enjoyment (2.0; 0.95-4.2), adverse

psychosocial exposures (2.3; 1.2-4.5) and taller stature (1.9; 0.8-

4.5). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that over one-fifth of

adolescent schoolchildren experience new-onset non-self limiting

abdominal pain over a one-year period, the majority of whom are

girls. In terms of factors for which intervention is possible,

previous somatic symptom reporting predicts future abdominal pain in

girls; whereas, in boys, both somatic symptoms reporting and

psychosocial factors predict future pain. These risk factors indicate

a possible mechanism for understanding the development of CAP, and

might have important implications for both primary and secondary

preventive strategies.