Evaluation of patients with acute abdominal pain admitted to the pediatric emergency department

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to evaluate causes and associated symptoms of acute abdominal pain in children applied to the Pediatric Emergency Department, to determine the pathogenic factors and to discuss approaches to the treatment. We evaluated retrospectively 626 children between the ages of 2 and 16 years. The most common cause of acute abdominal pain was acute gastroenteritis (40.8%), following by urinary tract infection (15%), constipation (9.3%), upper respiratory tract infection (3.6%) and parazitosis (3.6%). Emergency surgical treatment required in 6.2% of patients. 81.8% of the patients had associated symptoms to abdominal pain. The most common associated symptoms were diarrhea (38%), decreased appetite (29%), vomiting (24%), nausea (16%) and fever (16%). Duration of abdominal pain according to the anamnesis taken during the application was 0-24 hours in 55%, 24-72 hours in 22%,7 2 hours-1 month in 11%, 1-6 months in 7% and >6 months in 6% of the patients. Abdominal pain may occur as a symptom of a large group of diseases. Detailed anamnesis and careful physical examination are sufficient in making diagnosis and determining treatment.