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[Chronic recurrent abdominal pain and lactose malabsorption in childhood]
K Horváth1, G Horn, G Hassan Bin
1Semmelweis Orvostudományi Egyetem, Budapest.
Insights
Recurrent abdominal pain in children is often linked to lactose malabsorption, treatable with a Breath Hydrogen Test. Psychogenic factors and upper respiratory issues also contribute to pediatric abdominal pain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Context:
- Investigated 515 children with abdominal pain over two years.
- Pain characteristics: periumbilical/mid-epigastric, >2 months duration.
Purpose:
- Evaluate diagnostic procedures for recurrent abdominal pain in children.
- Identify common causes of pediatric abdominal pain.
Summary:
- Persistent lactose malabsorption identified in 48.9% of children, supporting Breath Hydrogen Test use.
- Other diagnoses included upper respiratory inflammation (91 patients), oesophagitis (18), and duodenal ulcer (1).
- Idiopathic/psychogenic abdominal pain suspected in 18.1%, with high-fiber diet suggested.
Impact:
- Highlights the Breath Hydrogen Test as a key diagnostic tool for pediatric abdominal pain.
- Emphasizes the role of lactose malabsorption and upper respiratory infections in pediatric abdominal pain.
- Suggests further investigation into psychogenic factors and dietary interventions for persistent cases.
Abstract:
The Authors examined 515 children with abdominal pain in the outpatient clinics for a period of two years. The pain was frequently periumbilical or mid epigastric with a history of more than two months. Persistent lactose malabsorption was found in 252 children (48,9%), which justifies the use of Breath Hydrogen Test as a first diagnostic procedure for assessing recurrent abdominal pain. Putative pathogens were identified in the stool specimens of 21 patients. Oesophagitis was diagnosed in 18 children and duodenal ulcer in one. 91 patients (less than 6 years old) improved after successful treatment of the chronic upper respiratory inflammations. The authors did not find any causes in 18.1 per cent of the children examined and they think that the abdominal pain in these children may be psychogenic. The use of high-fiber diet is proposed for the later group.