Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children course for GPs

This session considers the management of children who present with recurrent abdominal pain in general practice. The management of acute abdominal pain is discussed in the e-GP session ‘Acute abdominal pain in children’.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in June 2021.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• recognise causes of recurrent abdominal pain in children of different age groups
• be able to systematically assess children with recurrent abdominal pain with an awareness of key features in the history and examination
• identify and manage presentations of recurrent abdominal pain in children which require investigation or referral
• recognise, assess and manage children with functional abdominal pain

There are numerous possible causes ranging from serious medical conditions to self-limiting minor conditions and ill-defined functional causes. Whatever the cause, recurrent abdominal pain can be disruptive to the child’s schooling and have wide ranging psychosocial effects on the child and family concerned.