title: Recurrent abdominal pain in childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic, recurrent abdominal pain is common among children and adolescents. It interferes with everyday life, causes absence from school, and leads to frequent medical consultations, often involving burdensome diagnostic testing and protracted attempts at treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective review of the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Organic causes should be ruled out with a thorough medical history and physical examination and a small number of laboratory tests. The pediatric Rome III criteria include valid diagnostic criteria for functional abdominal pain in childhood. The available data imply that this condition is best treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, rather than with medications or dietary measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A systematic approach to chronic recurrent abdominal pain in children and adolescents is key to ruling out organic diseases while avoiding unnecessary tests and treatments.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Pädiatrische Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Lindwurmstrasse 4, 80337 München, Germany. philip.bufler@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bufler
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Holm H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Uhlig
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D055502:Secondary Prevention