Difficulties in the Diagnosis and Management of Functional or Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children

• Published in: Pediatric annals Vol. 45; no. 11; pp. e388 - e393
• Main Author: Gomez-Suarez, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SLACK INCORPORATED 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abdominal Pain - diagnosis; Abdominal Pain - etiology; Abdominal Pain - therapy; Adolescent; Celiac disease; Child; Chronic illnesses; Coping; Defecation; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Tests; Disease Management; Gallbladder; Gastroenterology; Gastroenterology - methods; Gastrointestinal Diseases - complications; Gastrointestinal Diseases - diagnosis; Gastrointestinal Diseases - therapy; Humans; Inflammatory bowel disease; Measurement Techniques; Medical Evaluation; Migraine; Pain; Pancreatitis; Pathophysiology; Patients; Pediatrics; Perceptions; Physical Examination; Physical Examinations; Primary care; Recurrence; Referral; Scientific Concepts
• ISSN: 0090-4481; 1938-2359
• DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20161019-01

Recurrent abdominal pain is a frequent pathology seen in the pediatric gastroenterology practice. In fact, most children with abdominal pain symptoms have functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. A focused medical history, comprehensive physical examination, and minimal testing are often enough to establish the diagnosis. The presence of red flags such as rectal bleeding, bilious vomiting, fever, and arthralgia should alert providers as well as direct further diagnostic and therapeutic plans. When patients show no red flags after a complete physical examination, providing the family with information about the pathophysiology and explaining the psychosocial model of pain can help to decrease anxiety around the pain symptoms. This article discusses the challenges in diagnosing and managing abdominal pain in children. [Pediatr Ann. 2016;45(11):e388-e393.].