Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) are chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal conditions that cannot be explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. In children FGIDs are highly prevalent and are influenced by multiple factors, including disturbances in gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, mucosal and immune dysfunction, altered gut microbiota, and central nervous system processing.
FGIDs in childhood often persist into later life, with evidence showing that up to 25% of children experiencing recurrent abdominal pain may develop Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in adulthood.