Recurrent abdominal pain in children

Recurrent abdominal pain in children can be variously defined: a useful definintion is three episodes of pain occuring over a period of three months or more.

It is very common, and in the majority of cases will be non-organic in nature. However, an appreciable minority will be organic, and careful history, examination and investigation is needed to reveal these. Note, however, that non-organic pain is very real to the sufferer, and in some cases the aetiology may be as serious as organic pain; for example as the presenting feature in abuse of some sort.