Editorial
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Artif Intell Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2022; 3(1): 1-12
Published online Feb 28, 2022. doi: 10.35712/aig.v3.i1.1
Gastrointestinal disorders in children with autism: Could artificial intelligence help?
Mohammed Al-Biltagi, Nermin Kamal Saeed, Samara Qaraghuli
Mohammed Al-Biltagi, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Alghrabia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Biltagi, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center, King Abdulla Medical City, Arabian Gulf University, Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Pathology Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain, Manama 12, Manama, Bahrain
Nermin Kamal Saeed, Microbiology Section, Pathology Department, Irish Royal College of Surgeon, Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Samara Qaraghuli, Department of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plant, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad 14022, Baghdad, Iraq
Author contributions: Al-Biltagi M, Saeed NK, and Qaraghuli S wrote and revised the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Biltagi, MBChB, MD, MSc, PhD, Chairman, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Al Bahra street, Tanta 31511, Alghrabia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: December 26, 2021
Peer-review started: December 26, 2021
First decision: February 10, 2022
Revised: February 12, 2022
Accepted: February 20, 2022
Article in press: February 20, 2022
Published online: February 28, 2022
Processing time: 60 Days and 17.8 Hours
Abstract

Autism is one of the pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders usually associated with many medical comorbidities. Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are pervasive in children, with a 46%-84% prevalence rate. Children with Autism have an increased frequency of diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux and/or disease, abdominal pain, chronic flatulence due to various factors as food allergies, gastrointestinal dysmotility, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). These GI disorders have a significant negative impact on both the child and his/her family. Artificial intelligence (AI) could help diagnose and manage Autism by improving children's communication, social, and emotional skills for a long time. AI is an effective method to enhance early detection of GI disorders, including GI bleeding, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Coeliac disease, food allergies, IBS, IBD, and rectal polyps. AI can also help personalize the diet for children with Autism by microbiome modification. It can help to provide modified gluten without initiating an immune response. However, AI has many obstacles in treating digestive diseases, especially in children with Autism. We need to do more studies and adopt specific algorithms for children with Autism. In this article, we will highlight the role of AI in helping children with gastrointestinal disorders, with particular emphasis on children with Autism.

Keywords: Autism; Gastrointestinal disorders; Artificial Intelligence; Children

Core Tip: Autism is a prevalent childhood neurodevelopmental condition. Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are pervasive in children, with a 46%-84% prevalence rate. The presence of GI can negatively impair children's management and education. Artificial intelligence (AI) could help diagnose and manage autism by improving children's communication, social, and emotional skills for a long time. AI is an effective method to enhance early detection and management of GI disorders, including GI bleeding, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Coeliac disease, food allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, and rectal polyps. However, we still have some obstacles to increasing the benefit of AI in medicine, particularly in children with autism.