Evaluation of the Children with Chronic Abdominal Pain

소아 만성 복통의 진단적 평가 -기능성 복통과의 감별점을 중심으로-

Chronic abdominal pain, defined as long-lasting intermittent or constant abdominal pain, is a common pediatric problem encountered by primary care physicians and medical subspecialists. Chronic abdominal pain in children is usually functional, i.e., without objective evidence of an underlying organic disorder. Functional abdominal pain is categorized as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, abdominal migraine, and aerophagia according to the Rome II criteria for pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders. There is insufficient evidence to state that the nature of abdominal pain or the presence of associated symptoms can discriminate between functional and organic disorders. The presence of alarming symptoms or signs, such as weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding, persistent fever, and chronic severe diarrhea, is associated with a higher prevalence of organic disease. Most children with chronic abdominal pain are unlikely to require diagnostic testing; such children often need pharmacologic and behavioral therapy.