Pediatria pre prax 4/2008

RECURRENT ABDOMINAL PAIN IN CHILDREN

Chronic and recurrent abdominal pain are common in children and adolescents. Recurrent abdominal pain means that the child has pain three or more times for at least three months. The pain must be severe enough that the child is not able to do normal daily activities. There are two categories of chronic abdominal pain: organic and functional disorders. Organic pain disorders are caused by a problem or abnormality in the body. The cause of functional disorders cannot be determined. Functional abdominal pain is the most common cause of chronic abdominal pain. It is a specific diagnosis that needs to be distinguished from anatomic, infectious, inflammatory, or metabolic causes of abdominal pain.

Keywords: reccurent abdominal pain, functional abdominal pain, children