Abdominal pain – colloquially called abdominal pain – (synonyms: Abdominal colic; abdominal spasm; abdomenopathy; abdominal pain; abdominal pain without disease; abdominal discomfort; abdominal crisis; abdominal spasm; abdominal colic; abdominal pain; abdominal tenderness; abdominal cramp; abdominal pain; chronic abdominal pain; chronic abdominal pain; colica – s.a. Colic; colica spastica; intestinal spasm; intestinal spasm pain; diffuse abdominal pain; three-month colic; abdominal tenderness; abdominal tenderness; flank pain; icteric colic; intestinal colic; infantile colic; colic; colonic pain; concremental colic; abdominal pain; Gastric colic; Gastric spasm; Mid-abdominal spasm; Umbilical colic; Recurrent colic; Stone colic; Infantile colic; Trimenon colic; Unexplained abdominal pain; Unexplained abdominal discomfort; Unexplained abdominal pain; Unexplained abdomen; Unexplained abdomen; Visceral spasm; ICD-10-GM R10. 4: Other and unspecified abdominal pain) can have a variety of causes.
Abdominal pain (abdominal pain) can be classified according to the following criteria:
- According to the course: acute versus chronic (prolonged).
- According to the quality of pain: cutting, dull, spasmodic.
- According to the localization: upper and lower abdominal pain.
Furthermore, a distinction from the functional complaints, which are not due to organic causes, is necessary. Functional, chronic abdominal pain, especially in childhood, is defined as follows: pain that:
- Persist for more than two months
- Occur more frequently than once a week
- And cannot be explained by organic or biochemical disease.
Typical causes of functional chronic abdominal pain in childhood include: functional dyspepsia (upper abdominal discomfort), irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal migraine, and functional abdominal pain.
Frequency peak: recurrent abdominal pain in young children occurs more frequently between four and six years of age and in young adolescents.
Abdominal pain is a common reason to consult a physician. They are among the most common symptoms – after headaches – in childhood.
Approximately 10% of all patients who visit an emergency department today come because of abdominal pain; about 20% of these patients meet the criteria for an acute abdomen.
The prevalence (frequency of illness) of recurrent (reoccurring) abdominal pain in childhood is as high as 19%.
Abdominal pain can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential Diagnoses”).
Course and prognosis: Since the causes of abdominal pain are diverse, many clues such as localization, food dependence, previous surgery, pregnancy other symptoms such as diarrhea (diarrhea) or nausea must be considered when searching for the cause. To be distinguished from abdominal pain is acute abdomen. In this case, very severe abdominal pain combined with defensive tension and a reduced general condition (possibly circulatory dysregulation) should be present by definition.
