Community – based assessment of the prevalence of gut symptoms among adults in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India

Gut-related (gastrointestinal) symptoms are very common among people in the community, but many individuals do not report them or manage them on their own without medical consultation. A prospective survey was conducted among 300 adult participants using a structured questionnaire. The study assessed the prevalence of several gastrointestinal symptoms among adults in the community, including belching, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, heartburn, nausea, regurgitation, and vomiting. The results revealed that 251 out of 300 participants (83.7%) reported experiencing at least one gastrointestinal symptom during the preceding three months, showing that gut-related complaints are relatively frequent in the community. Among them, bloating, heartburn, and constipation were the most commonly reported symptoms. Overall, the findings highlight that gastrointestinal symptoms are often experienced among adults in community settings. 
This article aimed to explore the prevalence of common gut symptoms among adults living in community settings in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala.