[Paroxystic abdominal pain in children]

Acute abdominal pain in children is a frequent symptom of a wide spectrum of abdominal and extra-abdominal pathologies. Some of them are more common in specific age groups. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are facilitated by a good knowledge of the etiologies. Although surgery is mandatory in most of the cases of perforation, torsion, ischemia or necrosis, a medical treatment will prevent an unnecessary laparotomy in some circumtances.