Clinical Profile of Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Maharashtra

Aim: The present study is planned to study the aetiology of recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children from 5 to 15 years of age, having 3 or more episodes of abdominal pain over 3 months, and to find out the prevalence of organic /non-organic causes of recurrent abdominal pain. Materials and Methods:100 children aged 5 to 15 years suffering from RAP were enrolled. Questionnaire was administration and physical examination was done by the researchers. Investigations were carried out and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The prevalence of organic cause for recurrent abdominal pain in our study was 19% and for nonorganic cause was 81%.Functional abdominal pain was the commonest cause of recurrent abdominal pain. Urinary tract infection, worm infestation, renal calculi were the other cause for recurrent abdominal pain. Weight loss, pain localized away from umbilicus, fatigue and periumbilical pain were significantly seen symptoms whereas fever and pallor was significantly seen signs amongst organic cause for recurrent abdominal pain.USG abdomen was found to be significantly abnormal among the cases with organic cause for recurrent abdominal pain. (p<0.05) Conclusion: The prevalence of organic cause for recurrent abdominal pain in our study was 19% and for nonorganic cause was 81%. Functional abdominal pain was the commonest cause of recurrent abdominal pain.