Abdominal pain in childhood is one of the most common complaints that can be encountered for many reasons. While the diagnosis of organic cause can be made in approximately 10% of the cases with physical examination and laboratory examinations, an operation may be required in 4-5% of acute pains. It is important to be evaluated by pediatric surgery, especially in cases of sudden onset.
Since childhood includes a broad perspective from the neonatal period to adolescence, different evaluations should be made regarding the approach to abdominal pain at all ages. Abdominal pain is diagnosed by evaluating together many parameters such as age, onset of abdominal pain, how long it has been, drug use, and side symptoms. An experienced pediatric surgeon can decide whether abdominal pain is surgical or not, usually after the first examination, as he cares about the child’s psyche, not being harmed or hurt in the approach to abdominal pain.
Abdominal pains due to air swallowing and gas are common in early infancy. Later, abdominal pains due to constipation begin to come to the fore. Abdominal pain due to urinary tract infection is also common in the first year, especially in boys.
Abdominal pain is one of the most common findings in children who have more infections with the start of nursery education after 2-3 years of age. Here, there may be intense pain with swelling of the glands in the abdomen. Although these pains are not surgical, they can rarely lead to surgical results. Abdominal pain is common in children with constipation who do not receive nutrition education in this period. However, under the age of 4, the possibility of organic causes of abdominal pain is higher.
Functional abdominal pains are pains that limit the activities of children once a month after the age of 5 and up to the age of 15 and are generally undiagnosed organically. It is more common in girls aged 10-12 years. Gender is an important factor in abdominal pain. In early childhood or transition to adolescence, girls may have ovarian and uterine pain.
Generally speaking, diarrhea or urinary tract pain is sudden and severe. In pain that may require surgery, such as appendicitis, the picture settles gradually and the pain increases gradually. This situation causes signs of infection in the abdomen, children cannot move and are silent. If there is an accompanying cough, the lungs must be evaluated. They may appear as abdominal pain in pains related to the lung or urinary system.
Abdominal pain is a disease that must be approached with care in childhood and treated by doctors who can show this care.
