Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are defined as a combination of chronic or recurrent symptoms interesting the gastrointestinal tract, that cannot be explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. One of the difficulties for clinicians in dealing with them is the lack of biochemical or structural markers that can be used to diagnose or monitor progression of these disorders. FGDIs are common in children and are currently diagnosed according to the symptom-based Rome Criteria.
This PhD thesis aimed to explore different aspects of FGIDs, such as the prevalence, the pathophysiology, the clinical diagnosis and the current therapeutic approach, focusing on changing in microbiota and therapeutic value of probiotics.