Does Your Kid Have Chronic Stomach Aches?

Aside from dietary modification, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and probiotics are effective in the treatment of pediatric abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders, according to research in last week's issue of Pediatrics.

Hypnotherapy included suggestions toward control and normalization of gut function, strengthening of ego, and stress reduction. Cognitive behavioral therapy focused on changing attitudes, cognition, and behavior that might improve symptoms.

Probiotics are believed to prevent overgrowth of potentially pathogenic bacteria, thereby maintaining the integrity of gut mucosa and normalizing intestinal inflammatory responses. When compared with placebo, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and the probiotic medical food VSL#3 were associated with significantly more treatment responders.

The study states that ore than 40% of children with irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain use complementary and alternative medicine.