Chronic gut pain can be a lifestyle-limiting – and not to mention painful – condition for kids to have. But for some young patients, a device the size of an Airpod can help alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), drawing on the wisdom of integrative medicine.
“So, 2,000 years ago, traditional Chinese medicine used acupuncture,” to pinpoint spots on the ear that connected to different organ systems, explained Dr. Vivien Nguyen, a pediatric gastroenterologist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. She joined “As Prescribed” with KCBS Radio’s Alice Wertz this week to explain how a small, wearable device brings this approach to modern medicine.
After completing treatment with the IB-Stim wearable, more than 80% of the pediatric patients experienced improvement in their pain. Approximately 60% have seen improvement in their worst pain.
“They found that you’re able to access the vagal nerves… by placing electrodes on the ear,” Nguyen said. “And that’s what this device does.”
Gut pain can cause kids to miss school and activities, and impact their lives negatively in other ways. An unobtrusive wearable offers another option for those who have exhausted other treatments. According to Nguyen, around 10% to 15% of children experience IBS related pain at some point.
“Basically, it is a glitch in the communication between our gut and our brain,” she said. “It occurs even in the absence of harm or injury or inflammation to the intestinal tract. It’s hurt without harm, really.”
Many factors can contribute to children developing IBS. These include genetics, trauma, medicines, common infections such as colds or the flu and more. Those who suffer from the condition have intestinal tracks that send alarm signals to the brain that result in pain or nausea that eventually play out in a “feedback loop that’s very hard to get out of,” said Nguyen
With the IB-STIM treatment, tiny titanium electrodes go on to the skin of the ear. Then, a small-battery-powered generator is placed behind the ear. It sends electrical impulses to the electrodes that goes to the vagal nerve and to the amygdala, which processes pain signals.
“The device is worn for five days in a row and the kiddo comes back every week for four weeks in a row, Nguyen explained. “And that… completes the treatment. And I like to think of pain or chronic pain kind of as a software glitch… so this is kind of like rebooting your computer.”
She said the IB-Stim device has only been available for the past four years and that is was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019. Learn more about how UCSF is helping patients with the technology here.
Listen to this week’s “As Prescribed” to learn more. You can also listen to last week’s “As Prescribed” about increased homelessness among older Americans here.