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Recurrent abdominal pain in children has various causes, including structural and functional issues. Functional abdominal pain, possibly from an irritable colon, affects a significant number of school-aged children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Childhood Disorders
Context:
- Recurrent abdominal pain is a common pediatric complaint.
- Causes range from congenital malformations to acquired conditions.
Purpose:
- To outline the differential diagnosis of recurrent abdominal pain in children.
- To highlight the prevalence of functional abdominal pain.
Summary:
- In neonates, structural issues like malformations are key.
- Infants may present with chronic inflammation or obstructions (adhesions, intussusceptions, volvulus).
- Appendicitis, lymphadenitis, Crohn's disease, and Colitis ulcerosa are seen in older children, but functional pain, likely irritable colon, affects 12-14% of school-aged children.
Impact:
- Provides a diagnostic framework for clinicians.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering functional disorders.
- Contributes to understanding the epidemiology of pediatric abdominal pain.
Abstract:
Recurrent abdominal pain in childhood can be caused structurally, functionally, metabolically or psychosomatically. In the neonatal period there occur malformations, in infancy chronic inflammations of bowel as well as obstructions due to adhesions following laparotomies or chronic intussusceptions or volvulus. In pre-school and school-age symptoms of appendicitis, lymphadenitis, Crohn's disease or Colitis ulcerosa occur. But every 8th to 9th child of school-age suffers from functional abdominal pain without structural origin, probably caused by an "irritable colon".