Does previous tuberculosis increase the risk of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children?

Objective: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) encompass a range of chronic conditions of unknown etiology, including functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, and functional constipation. The exact pathogenic mechanisms behind tuberculosis (TB) are unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether children with previous TB are at an increased risk of developing FGIDs after completion of TB treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 35 patients diagnosed with TB (age range, 24 to 216 months) and 49 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this retrospective study. Patients were evaluated for the presence of FGID symptoms after at least 6 months had passed after cessation of TB treatment, while the control group was assessed at the time of their first examination according to the Rome IV criteria. Results: The overall prevalence of FGIDs was 42.9% (n=15) in the patient group versus 12.2% (n=6) in the control group. A significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the frequency of FGIDs and the diagnosis of functional abdominal pain (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: This study demonstrated a higher prevalence of FGIDs in children with a history of TB compared to healthy controls, supporting the hypothesis that FGIDs are more common in children with previous TB. Children with previous TB may be at an increased risk for FGIDs, possibly due to chronic inflammation and immune system alterations associated with TB, highlighting the need for ongoing assessment of GI health in this population.