title: Recurrent abdominal pain in childhood.
abstract: Recurrent abdominal pain in childhood is common, and continues to be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. It is usually attributed to a functional gastrointestinal disorder rather than an organic disease. In most cases, a comprehensive history and physical examination should enable one to make a positive diagnosis of functional disorder. The presence of alarm symptoms and signs, such as weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding and chronic severe diarrhoea, warrants further investigations and referral to a paediatric gastrointestinal specialist. The mainstay of therapy in functional abdominal pain is education, reassurance and avoidance of triggering factors. While symptom-based pharmacological therapy may be helpful in patients who do not respond to simple management, it is best used on a time-limited basis due to the lack of good evidence of its efficacy. The primary goal of therapy is a return to normal daily activities rather than complete elimination of pain. In recalcitrant cases, psychological interventions such as cognitive behaviour therapy and relaxation training have proven to be efficacious.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Fang Kuan
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Choon How
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: How
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome