Proctalgia Fugax: An Emerging Anorectal Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Introduction: Proctalgia fugax (PF) is an anorectal disorder characterized by sudden, transient episodes of rectal pain. Although it has traditionally been described in adults, its recognition in pediatrics has gained relevance with its inclusion in the Rome V Criteria. Objective: To determine the prevalence of PF according to the Rome IV Criteria for adults modified for pediatrics, in schoolchildren and adolescents attending a Public School in Cali, Colombia. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in schoolchildren and adolescents aged 10–18 years. Demographic, clinical, and socioaffective variables were collected. Questionnaires were administered to identify disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) (QPGS-IV), quality of life (PedsQL), and anx-iety/depression (PROMIS-Anxiety/PROMIS-Depression). PF was defined using the Rome IV Criteria for adults modified for pediatrics. Statistical analysis included measures of central tendency and the chi-square or Fisher's exact test, with p< 0.05 considered statis-tically significant. Results: A total of 199 schoolchildren and adolescents were included (mean age 14.3 ± 2.0 years; 75.4% adolescents; 53.8% male; 39.7% mixed race). Regarding socioaffective variables, 65.8% had separated or divorced parents; school and social ab-senteeism were present in 43.2% and 34.2%, respectively; impaired quality of life in 53.8%; anxiety in 35.2%; and depression in 37.2%. The prevalence of any DGBI was 28.1%, defecation-related DGBIs 16.6%, and PF 3.0%. None of the variables analyzed showed significant differences for PF, except anxiety (p=0.002). Conclusions: PF was identified in 3.0% of the participants, showing that it can occur in schoolchildren and adolescents, with anxiety being an important factor to consider.