Aim The aim of this paper was to describe the most common reasons for visiting a pediatrician due to abdominal pain.

Material and Method In September 2023, 284 children with abdominal pain were examined and analyzed in the pediatric department of Primary healthcare center in Podgorica. The study presents a retrograde analysis of data. During the analysis we used clinical and laboratory methods as well as data from the electronic patient records.

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Abstract PP-103 Figure 1

Etiology of abdominal pain

Results Of 1040 patients, we analyzed 284 children (27.31%) with abdominal pain aged 3–15 years old with variosly located abdominal pain (table 1). Gastrointestinal infection occurred mostly in 65.1% (figure 2). Positive microbiological/immunological tests were positive in 7.56%. A positive test for Helicobacter Pylori (figure 1) was in 3.87%. Pain due to sorbitol intolerance was diagnosed in 0.7%. Constipation occurred in 5.28%, in 3 cases were found anal fissures. Among the children who tested positive for streptococcus pyogenes, abdominal pain occurred in one third of the patients. Abdominal pain as a part of pleuropneumonia occurred in one case predominantly accompanied with febrility, malaise and thoracoabdominal pain. Finally, abdominal pain in older children in lower abdomen as a part of urinary tract infection verified by positive urine test and cultures occurred in 7.4% of patients. Patients with positive or suspected Mc Burnie’s sign were referred to a surgeon. In two cases was performed appendectomy.

Conclusions Abdominal pain is a frequent symptom in pediatric population and one that frequently requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. In most cases is self-limiting and benign but there are potentially life-threatening conditions that require urgent management. Anamnestic, hetero-anamnestic data and physical examinations are essential to determine the cause of abdominal pain and to identify children with serious illness.