Etiological and Clinical-paraclinical Implications of Acute Abdominal Pain in Children

ETIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL-PARACLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE ABDOMIMAL PAIN IN CHILDREN (Abstract): Abdominal pain is the most important symptom of digestive diseases in children, being one of the most frequent reasons for their coming to the general practitioner, pediatrician or emergency room. The etiological possibilities for abdominal pain are numerous and the condition is difficult to manage even in the best of clinical circumstances, but especially in children who cannot tell a precise history or locate the pain. In such circumstances, the most important role of the doctor is to distinguish b etween benign self-limiting conditions, and life-threatening diseases, which are true surgical emergencies. Thorough anamnesis and full physical exam of the child guides the diagnosis, and paraclinical tests targeted to the most common group of diseases depending on the child’s age will lead in most cases to setting the positive diagnosis and thus allow the timely initiation of an adequate therapy, either medical, or surgical. This review aims to provide an update on the etiology and the main diagnostic methods of acute abdomen, helping discriminate between those patients who can be managed entirely in primary care, with recommendations based on the most currently accepted concepts in the management of acute abdomen in children.