REVIEWS   

Minerva Pediatrica 2010 April;62(2):179-88

Copyright © 2010 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The clinical approach to chronic abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome in children

Van Tilburg M. A. L. ¹, Chitkara D. K. ² ✉

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, Chapel Hill, NC, USA 2 Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Chronic recurrent abdominal pain is a common complaint evaluated by pediatricians, and a cause of concern for children and parents. Population and school based studies have reported that approximately 8% of children experience chronic abdominal pain. About half of these children will contact a physician about their pain. These children report reduced quality of life and interferences with school and play due to their pain. The large majority of children will not have a readily identified cause for their symptoms, and chronic abdominal pain is frequently classified as a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID). The below case study illustrates the presentation, evaluation, and clinical management of a child with chronic abdominal pain.