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 and 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.