RT Book, Section
A1 Miranda, Adrian
A2 Rudolph, Colin D.
A2 Rudolph, Abraham M.
A2 Lister, George E.
A2 First, Lewis R.
A2 Gershon, Anne A.
SR Print(0)
ID 7035708
T1 Chapter 384. Chronic Abdominal Pain
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-149723-7
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7035708
RD 2024/04/24
AB Chronic  abdominal  pain  is  characterized  by  intermittent  or  persistent  pain  that  occurs  over  a  period  greater  than  2  months.  Chronic  or  recurrent  abdominal  pain  (RAP)  is  reported  to  occur  in  10%  to  15%  of  children  between  the  ages  of  4  and  16  years  and  accounts  for  2%  to  4%  of  all  pediatric  office  visits.1  RAP  is  not  a  diagnosis  but  is  a  descriptive  term  that  applies  to  intermittent,  severe,  episodic  pain.  It  is  frightening  to  both  families  and  care  providers  who  are  concerned  that  it  is  a  harbinger  of  serious  disease  such  as  an  infectious,  inflammatory,  metabolic,  anatomical,  or  neoplastic  disorder.  However,  in  most  cases,  the  pain  is  functional,  without  demonstrable  evidence  of  a  pathological  condition.  Functional  pain  disorders  often  impact  school  attendance  and  performance,  peer  relationships,  and  participation  in  organizations,  sports,  and  personal  and  family  activities.