Abdominal Pain Flashcards
What diagnosis should you consider in a child presenting with acute abdominal pain coinciding with psychosocial stress?
Functional abdominal pain
What three conditions should one consider if a patient is presenting with acute onset of abdominal pain as the 1st symptom?
Intussusception, midgut volvulus, and ovarian/testicular torsion.
What four etiologies should one consider for acute abdominal pain in a patient who comes in following trauma?
Hemorrhage, musculoskeletal injury, pancreatitis, and perforated viscus.
What is the definition of recurrent abdominal pain?
≥3 episodes of pain during the course of at least 3 months that interferes with activities of daily living.
T/F: Abdominal pain that is nonorganic in nature presents with growth and development problems in the child.
False
What is the most common cause of abdominal pain in children?
Functional abdominal pain
What percentage of patients with recurrent abdominal pain have an underlying organic etiology?
Approximately 5% of children.
What (11) clues suggest an organic cause for abdominal pain?
Pain that awakens the child at night, unexplained intermittent fever, weight loss, deceleration of linear growth, heme-positive and/or chronically loose stools, bilious emesis or protracted vomiting, localized RUQ or RLQ tenderness, hepatosplenomegaly, CVA tenderness, oral ulcers, and perianal abnormalities.
What clues are useful in diagnosing functional abdominal pain?
Pain is typically periumbilical. Growth is normal and appetite is not usually affected. Symptoms tend to improve on weekends and during vacations and worsen before school or bed.
What is the recommended treatment for functional abdominal pain syndrome?
Reassurance. Medications are not effective.
What is functional dyspepsia?
The medical term for indigestion. Patients have pain in the midepigastric area which is strongly associated with meals. Growth is normal.
What treatment may be helpful in patients with functional dyspepsia?
As many as 50% of patients respond to acid suppression, despite the fact that there is no acid-related damage associated with the condition.
What are the classic findings in patients with irritable bowel syndrome?
Pain is typically in the lower abdomen, improves with defecation, and there are frequent changes in the stool caliber or frequency.
The finding of “currant jelly” stool suggests what possible diagnosis?
Intussusception
