[Somatization symptoms. An emerging pediatric entity]

Somatization symptoms are a clinical reality in our environment. However, many pediatricians have little information about this condition or experience of its management.

To determine the clinical and differential characteristics of these patients. The early identification of these patients and initiation of therapy in the initial stages of the process would improve prognosis.

A retrospective review was performed of the children admitted to the short-stay unit of a tertiary hospital because of somatic complaints and whose final diagnosis was that of a somatization disorder.

Sixty medical records were analyzed, of which 38 (63 %) corresponded to girls, with a mean age of 11 years at presentation. The most frequent reasons for consultation were related to the digestive and neurological systems. Thirty-four patients (57 %) had previously consulted for the same reason. In the sample analyzed, the most frequent personality trait was anxiety. The main triggers were familial and school factors. The most frequent diagnosis was pain disorder in 42 children (70 %). All patients received psychotherapy and 39 received complementary pharmacological treatment.

The data analyzed in this study indicate that somatization symptoms most frequently occur in anxious, prepubescent girls, with migraine or non-specific abdominal pain of approximately one month's duration. Patients have usually made several previous visits and no organic causes are discovered on physical examination.