title: Acute abdomen. The history.
abstract: Correct decision, when managing the acute abdomen in children, are based on careful clinical assessment. An accurate history and a detailed examination will provide more information than a multitude of investigations. The chronological order to appearance and the progression of each individual symptom must be obtained. Consideration of these dynamic changes will often yield an accurate diagnosis. This article outlines a structured approach to history taking and details the common causes of acute abdomen in childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, London, England.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spitz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kimber
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007443:Intussusception / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination