Introduction:

Studies of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGDs) among preschoolers are scarce.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to describe the prevalence, possible associations and characteristics of pre-school children with FGDs from private clinics and hospital outpatient clinics in Cali, Colombia.

Materials and method:

This is a descriptive study of prevalence in children between 2 and 4 years of age. The parents and/or guardians responded to the Rome III Criteria in Spanish. Sociodemographic, family and clinical variables were taken into account. The statistical analysis included measures of central tendency, two-tailed Student’s t-tests, chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact test, univariate and multivariate analyses, and calculation of ORs and 95% CI with p <0.05 established as statistically significant.

Results:

One hundred eighty-eight children were included (3.4 ± 0.7 years, 51.6% male, 63.3% private consultation) The prevalence of FGDs was 39.9%, the prevalence of functional constipation was 36.2%, the prevalence of functional diarrhea was 2.7% and the prevalence of cyclic vomiting syndrome was 1.1%. The main symptoms were for functional constipation were two or less bowel movements pre week and pain during defecation. Functional constipation was predominant when the patient had separated or divorced parents.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of FGDs was high and was the main cause of functional constipation. A possible risk factor is separated or divorced parents.

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