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[Diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in infants]

Isabelle Pruvost1, Estelle Aubry, Alain Martinot

  • 1UDSL, Université Lille-Nord de France, 59000 Lille.

La Revue Du Praticien
|June 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Recognizing pain in infants and toddlers with unexplained symptoms is crucial. Early diagnosis of conditions like intestinal occlusion, meningitis, or hernias aids timely intervention and improves outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Gastroenterology
  • Emergency Medicine

Context:

  • Infants and toddlers often present with non-specific symptoms like crying and irritability.
  • Differentiating serious conditions from benign causes of pain is challenging for clinicians.

Purpose:

  • To outline a diagnostic approach for evaluating acute abdominal pain in infants and toddlers.
  • To highlight key differential diagnoses and recommended investigations.

Summary:

  • Unexplained cries, tachycardia, or unusual behavior warrant immediate assessment for pain, shock, and intestinal occlusion.
  • Fever and irritability in young children suggest infections like meningitis, pyelonephritis, or pneumonia.
  • Paroxysmal pain with feeding refusal indicates potential intestinal occlusion, malrotation, or adhesions, requiring abdominal ultrasonography and inguino-scrotal examination.

Impact:

  • Facilitates prompt diagnosis and management of critical surgical and medical conditions in pediatric patients.
  • Reduces diagnostic delays and improves patient outcomes by emphasizing key clinical signs and investigations.

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