Abdominal Pain Syndrome (abdominal + pain_syndrome)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Psychiatric disorders and family functioning in children and adolescents with functional abdominal pain syndrome

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 7pt1 2008
Ahmad Ghanizadeh
Abstract Background and Aim:, Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder. There is a heightened risk when conducting potentially dangerous and unnecessary medical investigations and procedures in children with FAPS. The aim of this study was to survey the rate of the psychiatric disorders and family functioning in children and adolescents with FAPS. Methods:, The subjects were a consecutive new sample of 45 children and adolescents with FAPS, 45 with an organic abdominal pain, and 45 pain-free comparison subjects aged 5,18 years that were interviewed using the Farsi version of K-SADS. Family functioning and the severity of pain were also studied. Results:, About 51.1% of patients with FAPS suffered from at least one psychiatric disorder. Psychiatric disorders in the FAPS patients studied included general anxiety disorder (8.9%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (11.1%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (15.6%), separation anxiety disorder (24.4%), and major depressive disorder (15.6%). Except for generalized anxiety disorder and tic disorder, the other disorders were significantly more common in the FAPS group than in the two other control groups. Family functioning scores were not significantly different between groups. Discussion:, There is a high rate of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with FAPS in Iran, but our study found fewer incidences of disorders than previous reports have indicated. Family dysfunction difficulties in FAPS children are not more common than those in the control groups. [source]


Prospective peer-review audit of paediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 7-8 2007
Edward V O'Loughlin
Aim: To describe the findings of paediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) and to reduce the rate of normal findings in children undergoing diagnostic UGE. Methods: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed at a single tertiary referral children's hospital over a 3-year period by four endoscopists. Patients were subgrouped into diagnostic categories (recurrent abdominal pain syndrome (RAP), oesophagitis, coeliac disease and enteropathy/inflammatory bowel disease) and endoscopists recorded their clinical diagnosis as above before each procedure. Endoscopic and biopsy findings were compared with clinical diagnosis. After the first year of audit each endoscopist was appraised of their practice and strategies implemented to reduce the normal UGE. In years 2 and 3 all endoscopists were audited by their peers on a monthly basis. Results: A total of 1172 UGE were performed over a 3-year period. Ninety per cent were diagnostic procedures, of which 48% were normal, 16% identified oesophagitis, 11% coeliac disease, 6% gastritis, 3%Helicobacter pylori and 1% peptic ulcer disease. Peer-review audit significantly reduced the number of normal findings in coeliac disease, RAP and overall (P < 0.01) but not in the groups with presumed oesophagitis or investigation of enteropathy/inflammatory bowel disease. Conclusions: A high proportion of patients undergoing UGE have normal procedures. Peer-review audit can reduce the number of normal procedures particularly in RAP and in the diagnosis of coeliac disease. [source]


From the bench to the ,crib'-side: implications of scientific advances to paediatric neurogastroenterology and motility

NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 4 2006
D. K. Chitkara
Abstract, Paediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders may present in the neonatal period as the result of a congenital insult that occurred during embryonic development or as a manifestation of an abnormal genetic background. Functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders may also be acquired and present during childhood as the first presentation of a condition that can persist or re-occur throughout adolescence and adulthood. These disorders can have a significant psychological and financial impact on the lives of the affected children and their families.1,2 Recently, enteric neuroscience research has advanced the understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of uncommon congenital or developmental gastrointestinal motility disorders such as Hirschsprung disease and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. In addition, research has contributed to improvements in the understanding of more prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders in children, such as chronic constipation and functional abdominal pain syndromes. The purpose of this review is to highlight these advances with particular regard to the clinical impact they have in the understanding and management of disorders in the field of paediatric neurogastroenterology and motility. [source]