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Canadian Family Physician logoLink to Canadian Family Physician
. 1994 Mar;40:539-42, 545-7.

Recurrent abdominal pain during childhood.

R B Scott 1
PMCID: PMC2380069  PMID: 8199511

Abstract

Recurrent abdominal pain is a common presenting complaint among children. A thorough history and physical examination and limited laboratory investigation should enable a physician to make a positive diagnosis of "functional" recurrent abdominal pain in 90% to 95% of cases; an organic cause is identified in only 5% to 10%. The care and thoroughness of the history and physical examination establish the physician's credibility; explaining the clinical basis for the diagnosis and educating the child and parents on what is known about the condition reassures the parents.

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Selected References

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