Differential Diagnosis for Abdominal Pain in Children
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Constipation: This is a common cause of abdominal pain in children, often accompanied by changes in bowel habits, such as infrequent bowel movements or hard stools.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, this condition is frequently seen in children due to their exposure to various viruses.
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): UTIs can cause abdominal pain, especially in the lower abdomen, and are often accompanied by symptoms like dysuria or frequent urination.
- Functional Abdominal Pain: A condition where abdominal pain is not explained by other medical conditions, often related to stress or anxiety.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Appendicitis: Although less common, appendicitis is a critical diagnosis that requires prompt surgical intervention to prevent perforation and peritonitis. Symptoms can include severe abdominal pain, often starting around the navel and then moving to the lower right abdomen.
- Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part, leading to bowel obstruction and potentially severe complications if not treated promptly. It typically presents with intermittent abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody stools.
- Pyloric Stenosis: A condition that causes severe vomiting, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. It's characterized by abdominal pain and a palpable mass in the upper abdomen.
Rare Diagnoses
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can cause chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. While not as common in children as in adults, they are important to consider in the differential diagnosis.
- Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP): A systemic vasculitis that can cause abdominal pain, along with a characteristic rash, joint pain, and sometimes kidney involvement.
- Abdominal Malignancies: Although very rare, tumors such as neuroblastoma or Wilms tumor can cause abdominal pain in children and must be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially if other symptoms like weight loss or a palpable mass are present.