The evaluation and management of recurrent abdominal pain in childhood

Recurrent abdominal pain is a common symptom in children. It presents a diagnostic and management challenge. Underlying organic disease is rare but important to correctly identify. Most children with recurrent abdominal pain have a functional gastro-intestinal disorder. There are several recognized patterns of functional gastro-intestinal disorder affecting children. A combination of biological, psychological and social factors contribute to the aetiology of pain. Management is centred on identifying and modifying factors that may be contributing to the symptoms. The prognosis for functional gastro-intestinal disorder is generally good, though there is an increased chance of somatising and psychiatric disorders developing later in life.     

Evaluation of guided imagery as treatment for recurrent abdominal pain in children: a randomized controlled trial

Background  

Because of the paucity of effective evidence-based therapies for children with recurrent abdominal pain, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of guided imagery, a well-studied self-regulation technique.     

The management of recurrent abdominal pain

Recurrent abdominal pain is a common problem in school-aged children, and although many patients do not have an underlying identifiable pathology, it is important that those children with such conditions are diagnosed and treated promptly. This article sets out some of the common conditions presenting as recurrent abdominal pain in modern hospital-based practise, emphasizing features in the history and examination which point towards organic disease. Functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome are described. A scheme for appropriate use of investigations is suggested.     

Role of paracetamol in treatment of childhood Fever: a double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether paracetamol administration (i) increases the overall duration of fever; and (ii) is effective and safe, in symptomatic treatment of febrile children. DESIGN: Randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. METHODS: The trial was conducted at a tertiary care setting. 210 febrile children (6 months - 6 years) with uncomplicated respiratory tract infection received oral paracetamol (15 mg/kg) or placebo, if axillary temperature was 37.6C. Outcome measures included fever clearance time, rate of fall of temperature, percent reduction of temperature, proportion of afebrile children, symptomatic improvement (based on categorical improvement in activity, alertness mood, comfort, appetite and fluid intake) and clinical and biochemical adverse effects. RESULTS: Fever clearance time [median (SE, 95% CI)] was comparable between the two groups [paracetamol: 32 (2, 22-37) h; placebo: 36 (1, 33-39) h; P = 0.23]. Paracetamol resulted in significantly higher rate of fall of temperature (paracetamol: 0.33 +/-; 0.16 degrees C/h; placebo 0.07 +/- 0.13 degrees C/h: P <0.001), and percentage reduction of temperature (paracetamol: 85.4 +/- 22.4; placebo 45.5 +/- 34.1; mean difference 39.9; 95% CI 31.9-47.9; P<0.001) during first four hours after drug administration. Proportion of afebrile children after 4 hours (paracetamol: 46.6%; placebo: 12.1%; P <0.001) and symptomatic improvement at 6 hours were significantly higher (P<0.001) after administration of paracetamol as compared to placebo. No serious clinical or biochemical adverse drug effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Paracetamol achieves effective antipyresis and provides early symptomatic improvement in children with febrile illness without prolongation of fever duration or excessive adverse effects.     

Ultrasonographic studies in the management of recurrent abdominal pain

The medical records of 65 children and adolescents who had abdominal ultrasonography for the evaluation of recurrent abdominal pain were reviewed. Fifty-three subjects (81%) had normal results; in 12 cases (19%) an abnormality was detected. In no case could the pain be attributed to the abnormal finding. Furthermore, in 3 subjects, disclosure of the abnormal findings could have caused more harm than good. The role of the abdominal ultrasonographic study in the management of recurrent abdominal pain in children and adolescents is discussed.     

Motilin in children with recurrent abdominal pain: a controlled study

Fjord Christensen M. Motilin in children with recurrent abdominal pain: a controlled study. Aeta Pædiatr 1994;83:542–4. Stockholm. ISSN 0803–5253
The aim of this study was to compare serum motilin levels in children with and without recurrent abdominal pain, based on the assumption that recurrent abdominal pain in children is a gut motility disorder. In this controlled study, 19 children between 6 and 15 years or age with recurrent non-organic abdominal pain and 20 control children between 6 and 15 years of age without abdominal pain or other functional somatic complaints were evaluated. No slatistical significant difference was found in serum motilin levels between children with and without abdominal pain. Median difference between the groups was II pmol/1 (95% confidence limits of median difference -9 to +33). This investigation could not support the assumption that motilin might be a pathogenic factor in children with recurrent abdominal pain. It is suggested, however, that future research should compare serum motilin levels during and between attacks of pain.     

Lactose and milk intolerance in recurrent abdominal pain of childhood

Lactose tolerance test (LTT) was performed in 70 children with idiopathic recurrent abdominal pain (IRAP) and 50 matched controls. The prevalence of lactose malabsorption in the IRAP patients (47.1%) was significantly higher than in controls (18%). When milk was withheld fora 4 week period, 33% (11/33) of lactose malabsorbers and 16.2% (6/37) of lactose absorbers were relieved of their symptoms, the difference being insignificant. The limitations of standard oral lactose tolerance test are discussed.     

Family-based group treatment versus individual treatment in the management of childhood obesity: randomized,prospective clinical trial

Introduction  This study assessed the short- and long-term effects of a 3-month family-based group treatment in the management of childhood obesity versus individual treatment. Materials and methods  Eighty obese children, aged between 6 and 14 years, and their parents were included in this prospective controlled clinical study. Forty participants were randomly assigned for group treatment and the other 40 for individual treatment. A 3-month intervention program was focused on implementing healthy eating behaviors. The weight and height of the children were measured initially and at each treatment session and at follow-up visits. Body mass index was calculated and expressed as standard deviation score. Results and discussion  At the end of 3-month treatment program, there was a significant decline in BMI SDS in both groups (p < 0.001). After 1 year of follow-up period, there was still a significant decrease in BMI SDS in the study group (p < 0.001), whereas the decrease in BMI SDS was not maintained over the follow-up period in the standard group. There was a significantly increased consumption of vegetable and fruit and reduced consumption of carbonated drinks and fruit juice in both groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion  These findings demonstrate that the group treatment is more successful than the individual treatment in the management of childhood obesity.     

A new method of blood sampling reduces pain for newborn infants: a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Using a new simple blood glucose measurement device (Free Style), blood can thus be sampled from the forearm, which is less sensitive to pain than from the heel. Measuring the blood glucose levels in newborn infants using Free Style is therefore a potentially less painful testing modality than traditional blood sampling methods. OBJECTIVE: To compare the pain intensity at the time of blood sampling from the forearm using the Free Style with the conventional method from the heel. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty healthy neonates were randomized by the sealed envelope method into two groups-Group F, in which blood was sampled from the forearm using the Free Style, and Group H, in which blood was conventionally sampled from the heel using a lancet. The pain intensity was assessed based on their crying, the Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS) and the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS). RESULTS: After skin puncture, 12 (40%) of the infants cried in Group F and 27 (90%) in Group H. The duration of crying was also significantly shorter in Group F than in Group H. Both of pain scores between the two groups differed significantly, these findings indicated less pain for Group F. CONCLUSION: The new blood sampling method from the forearm was found to be less painful than the conventional method, thus making it possible to clinically use this product as an innovative method for blood sampling in neonatal medicine.     

Hyperimmune bovine colostrum in the treatment of shigellosis in children: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial

Immunological approaches have been considered as an alternative therapeutic option for the treatment of enteric infections over the past few years. Hyperimmune bovine colostrum (HBC) is a potentially innovative immunological option in the management of shigellosis together with traditional antibiotic therapy. Children aged 1-12 y with a history of bloody mucoid diarrhoea of less than 5 d duration were enrolled after their stool specimen was found to be positive for Shigella dysenteriae type 1 antigen by a rapid diagnostic fluorescent antibody staining test. They were randomized to receive either HBC containing very high titres of antibody against S. dysenteriae type 1 antigen or bovine colostrum (BC) without any antibody. The study group received 100 ml of HBC three times a day orally for 3 d and control group received BC. Children also received pivmecillinam in a dose of 50 mg kg -1 d -1 in four divided doses orally for 5 d. Admission characteristics of the 34 children in the HBC group and 35 in the BC group were comparable. No significant differences were observed in duration of diarrhoea, fever, anorexia, abdominal pain, tenesmus, stool frequency or visible blood in the stool between the groups. Two (6%) children in the study and five (14%) in the control group remained stool culture positive for S. dysenteriae type 1, even after 5 d of sensitive antimicrobial therapy.

Conclusion: The results indicate that HBC as an adjuvant is unable to show any beneficial effect in reducing the stool frequency, duration or severity of childhood shigellosis due to S. dysenteriae type 1 infection.     

Oxycodone vs placebo in children with undifferentiated abdominal pain: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of the effect of analgesia on diagnostic accuracy

BACKGROUND: Analgesics for children with acute abdominal pain are often withheld for fear that they might mask physical examination findings and thus might be unsafe. This viewpoint has been challenged recently. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of buccal oxycodone on pain relief, physical examination findings, diagnostic accuracy, and final clinical outcomes in children with acute abdominal pain. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial between December 2001 and November 2003. SETTING: University teaching hospital in Finland.Patients A total of 104 children aged 4 to 15 years with abdominal pain of less than 7 days' duration were screened, and 63 children with pain scores of 5 or higher on a 10-cm visual analog scale were eligible for the trial.Intervention Children were randomized to receive buccally either 0.1 mg/kg(-1) of oxycodone hydrochloride (n = 32) or the same volume of normal saline (n = 31). The same surgeon described the physical findings and indicated a provisional diagnosis and a provisional disposition before the children received the study medication and at 1 hour and 3.5 hours after initial dosing. Pain scores were recorded at baseline and every 30 minutes for 3.5 hours after the first study drug administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain intensity difference, presence or absence of abdominal guarding, and diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics, initial pain scores, and physical signs and symptoms were similar between the 2 groups. Both study drugs were associated with decreasing pain scores. The summed pain intensity difference over 7 observations was significantly greater in the oxycodone group, 22 +/- 18 cm, than in the placebo group, 9 +/- 12 cm (mean difference 13 cm, with a 95% confidence interval of 2-24 cm; P = .04). The diagnostic accuracy increased from 72% to 88% in the oxycodone group and remained at 84% in the placebo group after study drug administration. Laparotomy was performed in 17 patients in the oxycodone group and in 14 patients in the placebo group. Four patients without appendicitis underwent exploratory laparotomy in each group. One patient in the placebo group was initially diagnosed as having nonspecific abdominal pain, but at 14 hours, she was operated on for appendiceal perforation. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of buccal oxycodone provides a significant pain relief to children with acute abdominal pain, without adversely altering the clinical signs or obscuring the surgical diagnosis.