How to differentiate abdominal pain in children?

For children, abdominal pain is the most common symptom. After all, children often like to play outside and are easily infected with bacteria and viruses. They don't develop the habit of washing their hands after returning home, so these bacteria will enter the children's bodies. This is why abdominal pain in children is so common. So the question is, how to differentiate and diagnose abdominal pain in children? Parents may wish to learn more about the following article.

diagnosis

A comprehensive analysis should be conducted based on medical history and physical examination, supplemented by laboratory tests or other tests when necessary, so as to make an early and correct diagnosis as soon as possible.

treat

1. Symptomatic treatment

(1) For patients with water and electrolyte imbalance or shock, water and electrolyte imbalance should be corrected and anti-shock treatment should be given in a timely manner.

(2) Before the etiology is clearly diagnosed, drugs such as morphine, pethidine, and atropine should be avoided to avoid delaying the diagnosis. Laxatives or enemas are contraindicated in patients with suspected intestinal perforation, intestinal obstruction, or appendicitis. Pain relief can be achieved with general sedatives, vitamin K3 or acupuncture.

2. Treatment of the cause

Treat accordingly based on the cause. If intestinal spasm occurs, antispasmodics can be given. Biliary ascariasis or ascariasis partial intestinal obstruction can be treated with antispasmodics and analgesics. Inflammatory diseases should be treated with effective antibiotics based on the cause. Surgical acute abdomen should be treated promptly with surgery.

3. Management of children with suspected abdominal pain

For some children with abdominal pain whose diagnosis is unclear and who cannot be treated at home at any time, they need to stay in the hospital for observation. If the onset is less than 6 hours, and acute abdomen is suspected but the diagnosis is unclear, and if intestinal necrosis or perforation cannot be ruled out, observation should not exceed 12 hours. Observation items include changes in physical signs, X-rays and puncture objects. It is important to observe while carrying out active treatment. It mainly includes: ① Regularly measure basic vital signs, such as body temperature, pulse, respiration, etc., observe abdominal pain, muscle tension and abdominal tenderness, changes in intestinal tumors, and anal gas and defecation; ② Fasting and water abstinence, and perform gastrointestinal decompression when necessary; ③ Intravenous infusion to maintain water and electrolyte balance; ④ Use antibiotics to prevent infection (prepare for surgery) and prevent dysbacteriosis.

4. Surgical Exploration

If the diagnosis is unclear after laparoscopy or laparotomy for more than 12 hours, but intestinal strangulation, necrosis, and free perforation cannot be ruled out, timely surgical exploration is recommended. Laparoscopic exploration is suitable for girls, obese people, and those with mild abdominal signs. Laparotomy should still be performed in the following situations, especially those who need rapid rescue: ① For those with shock and abdominal signs, if rescue of shock is ineffective, laparotomy should be performed while rescue is being performed. Laparoscopy is not suitable for critical cases. ② The puncture material is bile, feces, or the bloody puncture fluid is relatively viscous and contains many clots; ③ The diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum is unclear, and poisoning and abdominal signs are obvious; ④ The patient has abdominal distension, and X-ray examination shows a deflated colon and high tension in the small intestine; ⑤ The patient has a huge abdominal tumor and significant muscle tension and tenderness.