RECURRENT ABDOMINAL-PAIN

A long-term follow-up study (minimum of five years) of 161 children with recurrent abdominal pain disclosed that three had organic disease that was missed—inflammatory bowel disease. Anorexia nervosa developed in one patient. Three fourths of the patients recovered from the initial symptom; most recovered within a few weeks; but some patients continued to have complaints for a number of years. Approximately 20% of patients underwent additional surgical or medical treatments of doubtful necessity. In 18% of patients, other psychosomatic symptoms developed. (Am J Dis Child 133:486-489, 1979. © 1979, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.