title: Assessment and differential diagnosis of abdominal pain.
abstract: Abdominal pain as a chief complaint can present a significant diagnostic challenge in the primary care setting. It is incumbent upon the primary care provider to have a thorough understanding of the many potential causes of abdominal pain, as well as a methodical, comprehensive, yet concise approach to its assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiologic Nursing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing, USA.
authors.forename: Sally K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Patricia T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Alpert
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004630:Emergencies / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation