Abdominal pain: Survival guideline in the pediatrician’s office

Abstract

Abdominal pain is a common pathology in Pediatrics, representing 2 to 4% of Primary Care pediatrician consultations, and 7-25% of Pediatric Gastroenterology consultations. The causes of abdominal pain can be multiple and varied, and addressing a patient with abdominal pain is sometimes a challenge for the pediatrician. This review aims to help the pediatrician to practically evaluate a patient with abdominal pain, reviewing the most frequent pathologies according to the location of the pain, identifying the red flags that indicate a potentially serious organic pathology, and providing strategies to be able to reach a diagnosis and subsequent treatment of the condition.