Potential biobehavioral mechanisms of recurrent abdominal pain in children

To explain why otherwise healthy children experience recurrent episodes of abdominal pain (the recurrent abdominal pain syndrome, or RAP), it has been hypothesized that the child with RAP demonstrates: (1) a deficit in autonomic nervous system recovery to stress, and/or (2) an enhanced behavioral and subjective response to pain. To evaluate the validity of these assumptions, children with RAP (9–14 years) and hospital and healthy controls matched for age, sex, ethnicity and SES were exposed to a cold pressor stimulus (0 ± 1°C). Autonomic (peripheral vasomotor and heart rate), somatic (forearm EMG), subjective (pain intensity and distress), and behavioral (facial expression) responses were recorded during baseline, stressor and recovery periods. At all 4 levels of observation, the cold pressor stimulus resulted in significant autonomic, somatic, subjective and behavioral arousal. However, no significant differential response across the 3 groups was noted for any measure and, in particular, no recovery deficit in autonomic arousal was demonstrated. These findings do not support the assumption of a differential response to an acute laboratory induced stress in children with RAP compared to control children.     

再发性腹痛儿童幽门螺杆菌IgG测定及分析

目的　探讨儿童再发性腹痛 (RAP)与幽门螺杆菌 (HP)感染的关系。方法　采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清中相应的HP -IgG抗体。 结果　 2 662例再发性腹痛儿童 ,HP -IgG阳性者 789例 ,检出率 2 9 64 %;男女性别感染率无显著性差异 ,P >0 0 5。结论　①再发性腹痛儿童HP感染状况不容忽视 ;②血清学方法可作为HP感染初步筛选试验 ,根据其结果再进行1 3 C尿素呼气试验 ( 1 3 C -UBT)判断HP感染状态。两种试验方法结合诊断HP感染具有创伤小、准确、快速、相对经济的优点     

Parents' worries about recurrent abdominal pain in children.

Recurrent abdominal pain is a common childhood disorder characterized by multiple episodes of stomachaches severe enough to interrupt daily activities. Recurrent abdominal pain is a difficult diagnosis for parents, children, and clinicians since there is no definitive cause of the symptoms. Research has shown recurrent abdominal pain is at least partly learned through social modeling. The purpose of this study was to understand parental worries and fears of recurrent abdominal pain that explain parental reinforcement of illness behavior. In-depth interviews were held with 15 parents of children diagnosed with recurrent abdominal pain. Parental cognitions were identified and thematically grouped. Two independent judges coded the interviews for the categories (88% inter-judge reliability). Six major categories of worries were identified. Parental cognitions about recurrent abdominal pain revolved around the fear of a disease and a desire for diagnosis and effective treatment. Many parents stated they felt helpless to know how to deal with their child's suffering. These fears and worries may explain why parents reinforce illness behavior by showing empathy for a supposedly sick child. The findings also identified areas of possible miscommunications between clinicians and parents. This study adds to our understanding of parents' view on recurrent abdominal pain and gives us tools to address cognitions that can perpetuate symptoms in children.     

Effects of stress on pain threshold and tolerance in children with recurrent abdominal pain

Models of stress-induced hyperalgesia state that exposure to stress can exaggerate subsequent pain experiences. Studies using both animal and human subjects have shown evidence for hyperalgesia as a function of stress [e.g., Jorum E. Analgesia or hyperalgesia following stress correlates with emotional behavior in rats. Pain 1988;32:341-48; Peckerman A, Hurwitz BE, Saab PG, Llabre MM, McCabe PM, Schneiderman N. Stimulus dimensions of the cold pressor test and the associated patterns of cardiovascular response. Psychophysiology 1994;31:282-90; Gameiro et al. Nociception and anxiety-like behavior in rats submitted to different periods of restraint stress. Physiol. Behav. 2006;87:643-49; Lucas et al. Visceral pain and public speaking stress: neuroendocrine and immune cell responses in healthy subjects. Brain Behav. Immun. 2006;20:49-56]. However, the role of stress in pediatric pain is not well understood. This study examined stress reactivity and pain tolerance and sensitivity in a population of children with Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). Forty-nine children meeting criteria for RAP (28 female; mean age 13years; range 9-17years) were randomly assigned to either a condition in which they completed an experimental stressor paradigm (stress interview, serial subtraction task) followed by a pain task (cold pressor) or a condition in which they received the pain task prior to the stress tasks. Children who underwent the stress tasks before the pain task exhibited lower levels of pain tolerance than those who received the pain task first (p<.01); no differences were found between the two groups in pain threshold or pain intensity ratings. Further, pain tolerance was not related to individual differences in physiological reactivity (heart rate change) to the stressor. The present research demonstrates the first evidence of the occurrence of stress-induced hyperalgesia in a pediatric pain population.     

磁控胶囊内镜在儿童再发性腹痛中的诊断价值

目的探讨磁控胶囊内镜在儿童再发性腹痛（RAP）中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析2021年1月-2021年6月上海交通大学医学院附属儿童医院内镜中心125例行磁控胶囊内镜检查的RAP患儿的临床资料,分析镜下病变检出情况和胶囊内镜在消化道各部位运行时间等。结果125例患者中,35例拟行全小肠检查（1例因吞服失败而未完成）,90例在磁控条件下行食管及胃部检查。磁控胶囊内镜在食管内的中位运行时间为8.5 (5.3,12.5) s,在胃内的中位运行时间为49.0 (17.7,94.0) min,行全小肠检查的患儿,胶囊内镜在小肠内的中位运行时间为252.0 (192.5,340.0) min,全小肠检查完成率为97.1%(34/35）,检查完成后所有胶囊内镜均顺利排出体外。上消化道病变检出率为71.8%(89/124）,小肠病变检出率为68.6%(24/35）。磁控胶囊内镜对儿童RAP的总体病变检出率为73.4%(91/124）。结论磁控胶囊内镜在RAP患儿胃肠道病变检查中有较高的病变检出率,且安全无痛苦,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

Abdominal migraine: an under-diagnosed cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children

(Headache 2011;51:707‐712) Objective.— Our objective was to demonstrate that, despite recognition by both the gastroenterology and headache communities, abdominal migraine (AM) is an under‐diagnosed cause of chronic, recurrent, abdominal pain in childhood in the USA. Background.— Chronic, recurrent abdominal pain occurs in 9‐15% of all children and adolescents. After exclusion of anatomic, infectious, inflammatory, or other metabolic causes, “functional abdominal pain” is the most common diagnosis of chronic, idiopathic, abdominal pain in childhood. Functional abdominal pain is typically categorized into one, or a combination of, the following 4 groups: functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, AM, or functional abdominal pain syndrome. International Classification of Headache Disorders—(ICHD‐2) defines AM as an idiopathic disorder characterized by attacks of midline, moderate to severe abdominal pain lasting 1‐72 hours with vasomotor symptoms, nausea and vomiting, and included AM among the “periodic syndromes of childhood that are precursors for migraine.” Rome III Gastroenterology criteria (2006) separately established diagnostic criteria and confirmed AM as a well‐defined cause of recurrent abdominal pain. Methods.— Following institutional review board approval, a retrospective chart review was conducted on patients referred to an academic pediatric gastroenterology practice with the clinical complaint of recurrent abdominal pain. ICHD‐2 criteria were applied to identify the subset of children fulfilling criteria for AM. Demographics, diagnostic evaluation, treatment regimen and outcomes were collected. Results.— From an initial cohort of 600 children (ages 1‐21 years; 59% females) with recurrent abdominal pain, 142 (24%) were excluded on the basis of their ultimate diagnosis. Of the 458 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 1824 total patient office visits were reviewed. Three hundred eighty‐eight (84.6%) did not meet criteria for AM, 20 (4.4%) met ICHD‐2 formal criteria for AM and another 50 (11%) had documentation lacking at least 1 criterion, but were otherwise consistent with AM (probable AM). During the observation period, no children seen in this gastroenterology practice had received a diagnosis of AM. Conclusion.— Among children with chronic, idiopathic, recurrent abdominal pain, AM represents about 4‐15%. Given the spectrum of treatment modalities now available for pediatric migraine, increased awareness of cardinal features of AM by pediatricians and pediatric gastroenterologists may result in improved diagnostic accuracy and early institution of both acute and preventative migraine‐specific treatments.     

Understanding recurrent abdominal pain of childhood

Recurrent abdominal pain is a distressing childhood phenomenon. It is a benign pain syndrome, with no definitive cause, affecting more than 10% of all school-aged children. It is important for gastrointestinal nurses to recognize the symptoms of recurrent abdominal pain and provide individualized management for the child and family.     

Acute abdominal pain in children

Acute abdominal pain in children presents a diagnostic dilemma. Although many cases of acute abdominal pain are benign, some require rapid diagnosis and treatment to minimize morbidity. Numerous disorders can cause abdominal pain. The most common medical cause is gastroenteritis, and the most common surgical cause is appendicitis. In most instances, abdominal pain can be diagnosed through the history and physical examination. Age is a key factor in evaluating the cause; the incidence and symptoms of different conditions vary greatly over the pediatric age spectrum. In the acute surgical abdomen, pain generally precedes vomiting, while the reverse is true in medical conditions. Diarrhea often is associated with gastroenteritis or food poisoning. Appendicitis should be suspected in any child with pain in the right lower quadrant. Signs that suggest an acute surgical abdomen include involuntary guarding or rigidity, marked abdominal distention, marked abdominal tenderness, and rebound abdominal tenderness. If the diagnosis is not clear after the initial evaluation, repeated physical examination by the same physician often is useful. Selected imaging studies also might be helpful. Surgical consultation is necessary if a surgical cause is suspected or the cause is not obvious after a thorough evaluation.     

Assessing the pain experience in children.

A paucity of literature exists on the experience of children in pain: however, its study is most relevant to the pediatric nurse who must care for the child. It is necessary for the nurse to understand the influential factors that affect the perceptions and expressions of children who have pain before she can intervene in a comfort-producing and health-promoting manner.     

彩色多普勒超声对功能性再发性腹痛儿童肠系膜上动脉的血流动力学研究

目的通过研究功能性再发性腹痛（RAP）儿童肠系膜上动脉（SMA）血流动力学的变化,探讨功能性RAP与SMA血流动力学变化的相关性。方法超声测量40例功能性RAP儿童SMA的直径、血流量、收缩期峰值速度（PSV）、舒张末期速度（EDV）、搏动指数及阻力指数,并与45例健康儿童（对照组）比较。结果功能性RAP儿童组SMA的PSV、EDV、直径、血流量较对照组降低（P〈0．01）,搏动指数及阻力指数在两组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论功能性RAP儿童的SMA部分血流动力学指标降低,其变化对于功能性RAP的临床诊断具有参考价值。     

Acute abdominal emergencies. Assessing & treating patients with severe abdominal pain

A focused approach to the patient with abdominal pain includes a working knowledge of relevant anatomy, a basic understanding of physiology and the ability to take a careful history. Creating a differential diagnosis, resuscitating patients in shock and appropriately treating a patient's pain will allow EMS crews to greatly impact patient care.     

儿童腹痛

患者,女,13岁,自述有上腹部疼痛伴呕吐6个月。患者6个月前无明显诱因下出现上腹部疼痛,为绞痛,呈阵发性。腹痛常在呕吐后慢慢缓解,同时,有恶心、呕吐,呕吐物为胃内容物,常常伴1～2次腹泻样大便。腹痛发作2～3d后,病人可正常饮食。这样的症状常常发生在晚上,一般4周左右发作一次,但与月经周期无关。二次发病间隔期,女孩胃口正常,无其他症状,无咯血,无血脓便,无发热。除急性发作期,大便正常,生长和体重正常。每次症状出现时,病人被送至急诊室,经解痉治疗后,症状缓解出院。