Analysis of Predictive Factors for Children with Abdominal Pain in Emergency Departments

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Abdominal pain is one of most common complaints in children who visit emergency department (ED), but sometimes it is very difficult in differential diagnosis between medical and surgical disease. This study was performed to collect and analysis of diagnositic scores of children with abdominal pain who could not definitely diagnosed as medical or surgical disease in ED. METHODS: This study reviewed 201 children who were visited for abdominal pain in ED at a tertiary hospital from January 2005 to June 2005. We reviewed the medical records and analysed clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and radiologic findings retrospectively. We analyzed the diagnostic scores between medical and surgical disease group. RESULTS: The number of medical disease are 125 patients, and the number of surgical disease are 76 patients. Significant predictable factors for surgical diseases are right quadrant pain, vomiting, tenderness, rebound tenderness, leukocytosis and diagnostic score. The mean diagnostic score of medical diseases is 4.55+/-4.10 (mean+/-SD) and the mean score of surgical diseases is 16.22+/-3.48(mean +/-SD). CONCLUSION: For the diagnosis of children with abdominal pain which is uncertain either medical or surgical disease in ED, the diagnostic scores, careful observation and physical examination repeatedly are helpful for correct diagnosis and prompt treatment.