Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is one of the most common chief complaints among children. In infants and toddlers, abdominal discomfort may present as crying, flexing of the legs, spitting up, or lethargy. Abdominal pain in children and adolescents is often localized to a specific region and may be associated with abnormal vital signs, vomiting, abdominal distension, or hematochezia. A detailed history should be obtained, and a thorough physical exam should be performed on all patients to narrow down the assessment and determine the best plan of action. This chapter introduces the most common and emergent causes of abdominal pain and considerations relevant to the evaluation and management of different conditions.