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Chronic abdominal pain in children

Leonie Gray1

  • 1Rockhampton Hospital, Queensland. grayl@iinet.net.au

Australian Family Physician
|June 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Chronic abdominal pain in children is often functional, not organic. Early diagnosis and management of functional abdominal pain are key to improving quality of life and avoiding unnecessary tests.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background:

  • Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) is prevalent in children, significantly impacting daily life.
  • Most childhood CAP cases stem from nonorganic/functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate between nonorganic and organic causes of chronic abdominal pain in children.
  • To emphasize the clinical significance of functional abdominal pain, necessitating active diagnosis and management.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive patient history and physical examination.
  • Utilizing an event diary for symptom tracking.
  • Recognizing 'alarm' symptoms and signs indicative of organic disease.

Main Results:

  • A systematic approach aids in distinguishing organic from functional causes of CAP.
  • Functional abdominal pain diagnosis facilitates targeted management.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of chronic abdominal pain involves differentiating functional from organic causes.
  • Understanding brain-gut interactions is crucial for managing functional abdominal pain.
  • Appropriate diagnosis reduces unnecessary investigations and guides effective pain management strategies.
Abstract

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