Parents’ Fears and Worries about Recurrent Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is common in children and adults alike. As many as 9 to 25% of schoolaged children suffer from recurring episodes of moderate to severe abdominal pain (RAP). In addition to the distress that is associated with the anticipation of pain or actual pain, increased school absence is a significant worry in these children. Spontaneous recovery is common, but many children continue to suffer even into adulthood. Despite the risk for lifetime suffering and the effects on academic and social functioning, RAP has received relatively little attention in the medical literature in comparison to the adult functional bowel disorders.