Abdominal pain (peds)

Background

• Bilious emesis is a surgical emergency until proven otherwise

Differential Diagnosis

Pediatric Abdominal Pain

0–3 Months Old

• Emergent
  • Necrotizing Enterocolitis
  • Volvulus
  • Testicular torsion
  • Inguinal hernia
    • Incarcerated hernia
  • Trauma
  • Pyloric stenosis
  • Toxic megacolon
  • Hirschsprung's Disease
• Nonemergent
  • Constipation
  • Acute Gastroenteritis
  • Colic

3 mo–3 y old

• Emergent
  • Intussusception
  • Testicular Torsion
  • Trauma
  • Volvulus
  • Appendicitis
  • Toxic megacolon
  • Vaso-occlusive crisis
• Nonemergent
  • Acute Gastroenteritis
  • Constipation
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Henoch-Schonlein purpura

3 y old–adolescence

• Emergent
  • Appendicitis
  • DKA
  • Vaso-occlusive crisis
  • Toxic ingestion
  • Testicular Torsion
  • Ovarian Torsion
  • Ectopic Pregnancy
  • Trauma
  • Toxic megacolon
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Gastric ulcer disease
  • Ovarian cyst
  • Pregnancy
  • Pancreatitis
  • Cholecystitis
  • Intussusception (to age 6)
• Nonemergent
  • Constipation
  • Acute Gastroenteritis
  • Nonspecific viral syndrome
  • Streptococcus pharyngitis
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Pneumonia
  • Renal Stone
  • Henoch-Schonlein purpura
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Vulvovaginitis

Diagnosis

• UA, hCG
• CBC
• Chemistry
• Possible imaging:
  • Abd xray
    • Specific, not sensitive
  • Ultrasound
    • Appropriate for intussusception, ovarian/testicular, GB, IUP, appy
  • CT
    • May be associated with 1/1,000 lifetime risk of malignancy

See Also

• Abdominal Pain
• Pyloric Stenosis
• Meckel's Diverticulum
• Inguinal Hernia (Peds)