ETIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF PAIN ABDOMEN IN PEDIATRICS OPD

Dr. Divya Dhiman and *Dr. Twinkle Sood

ABSTRACT

Background: Abdominal pain is a frequent condition in children. Majority of episodes of pain abdomen are self-limiting, but persistent abdominal pain requires haematological and radiological evaluation. Acute abdomen is caused by a variety of conditions like acute appendicitis, intussusception etc which requires urgent intervention. Pain abdomen can be due to a variety of conditions which requires a thorough history and physical examination followed by other investigations to confirm the diagnosis. In some patient diagnosis can be challenging. Methods: 150 patients within the age range from 1 to 16 years attending Pediatric Opd at civil hospital Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India from July 2022 to December 2022 presenting with pain abdomen of various etiologies were included in the study. After history taking all the patients were thoroughly examined physically and underwent some haematological, radiological and urine examination. Results: Out of 150 patients 38 (25.3%) had chronic constipation, 30(20%) had UTI, 14(9.3%) were surgical emergencies, 10(6.6%) had parasitic infestation, 18 (12%) patients had acute gastritis, 12(8%) had acute gastroenteritis 24(16%) were functional causes, 1 patient had abdominal tuberculosis and 3 were miscellaneous. Out of 150 patients, 38 patients had pain in epigastric region , 61 patients had pain around umbilical region , 31 patients had pain in lumbar region and 20 patients had pain in iliac region .There was association of pain abdomen with junk food ingestion in 28 patients out of 150 patients .Associated symptoms such as vomiting was present in 30 patients, fever was present in 52 patients, loose motions were present in 12, constipation was present in 38 patients and burning micturition was present in 18 patients . Out of 150 patients, 126 had some organic pathology and 24 were functional pain abdomen. Out of 24 functional pain abdomen case, there was history of some stress related issues at home, school or with parents, family and friends in 20 patients.

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