Recurrent Abdominal Pain in School Age Children

Abstract Background Abdominal pain defined as any type of pain or discomfort that occurs in any area from the lower chest to the groin. Abdominal pain is symptom of a wide variety of mild to serious diseases, disorders, conditions. Abdominal pain can result from infection, malignancy, inflammation, obstruction and other abnormal processes. Aim of the Work To define the causes of recurrent abdominal pain among a sample of school age children. Subjects and Methods This cross sectional study was carried out to evaluate those children who presented to the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, Children Hospital, Ain Shams University because of recurrent abdominal pain they were diagnosed in the pediatric Gastroenterology unit between June 2016 and July 2017. History taking included full analysis of abdominal pain, associated gastrointestinal symptoms and associated systemic manifestations. Examination included anthropometric measurements, general and local abdominal examination. Routine investigations included complete blood counts, urine analysis and culture, microscopic stool examination and pelviabdominal US. Other specific investigations were selected according to clinical manifestations to reach an organic cause. After reaching the definitive diagnosis, patients were classified into 2 groups organic causes and functional abdominal pain. Results During the study period, 100 children presented with recurrent abdominal pain. Results revealed that only 28% of the recurrent abdominal pain causes were attributed to organic factors; the most commonly encountered organic causes of recurrent abdominal pain were urinary tract infection (12%) while 72% of children presented with functional recurrent abdominal pain. The most common causes of function recurrent abdominal pain in our study was irritable bowel syndrome. Conclusion Most of the cases of RAP among school age children are due to functional abdominal pain (72%).