[Recurrent abdominal pain in schoolchildren 9-12 years of age]

The frequency of recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) was investigated in a material of 664 Danish schoolchildren. 15% of the children aged 9-12 years had RAP, defined as at least three episodes of abdominal pain during a period of three months with pain of an intensity which affected the behavior of the child. In general, there was no significant difference in the frequency of RAP in boys and girls in the material, however, a preponderance of girls with RAP after the age of ten years was found. The investigation showed that symptoms such as headache, limb pains and diarrhoea were experienced more frequently among children with RAP. In general, RAP occurred more frequently among children in families with high frequencies of psychosomatic symptoms. 40% of all the children questioned lived in broken homes. A tendency to increased frequency of RAP was found among these children. Children who lived in a garden city had essentially lower frequencies of RAP than children from other areas. There was an evident preponderance of children with RAP in families who lived in flats. There was no significant difference in the school and occupational education of the parents and the frequency of RAP.