Acute abdomen

Abstract

Acute abdominal pain is a common reason for consultation in pediatric emergency rooms. Although a low percentage will be due to severe processes, early distinction from the more banal and frequent causes can be a challenge. The age of the child significantly influences the diagnostic possibilities. Carrying out a detailed history and a meticulous physical examination remain the cornerstones for diagnostic guidance. The judicious use of certain complementary tests may be necessary in doubtful cases, among which, the usefulness of ultrasound stands out as it is minimally invasive and provides useful information in many cases. In this review some of the most frequent causes of acute abdomen in the pediatric age, together with the analysis of the large syndromic groups will be addressed. The importance of adequate analgesia administered even before the physical examination is pointed out, which without hiding the key signs, provides comfort to the child and allows carrying out the physical examination with the necessary tranquility.