Children vary greatly in their perception and tolerance of pain. The pain abdomen in children can be caused by many causes, which can arise within or outside gastrointestinal tract. The common causes of abdominal pain in children and adolescents are :
Non organic (no identifiable organic causes)
• Recurrent abdominal pain syndrome (functional abdominal pain)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Non ulcer dyspepsia
Gastrointestinal causes
• Acute gastroenteritis /dysentery
• GERD - Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease
• Gastritis and peptic ulcer
• Hepatitis
• Constipation
• Milk and other food intolerance
• Parasitic infestations
• Appendicitis
• Intestinal obstruction
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis)
• Hernia (complicated)
• Cholecystitis / cholelithiasis / Choledochal cyst
• Pancreatitis
• Intestinal tuberculosis, etc.
Non gastrointestinal causes
• Urinary tract infection /stones
• Abdominal migraine / epilepsy
• Sickle cell crisis
• Lead poisoning
• Pneumonia
Careful evaluation is required. Recurrent and persistent pain needs to be evaluated by a Pediatric Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist.
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