title: The clinical approach to chronic abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome in children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: M A L
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Van Tilburg
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Chitkara
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy