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ABSTRACT

Acute abdominal pain in the adolescent or young adult can be due to many causes, some of which are considered in this discussion. The key to an accurate diagnosis is a meticulous medical history, careful physical examination repeated over time, and judicious use of laboratory and/or imaging studies. The medical history may present red flags that alert the astute clinician to which causes are benign and which ones indicate serious pathology. Particularly important is the location of the pain and how it may change over time. The challenging features presented by acute abdominal pain in the adolescent and young adult include findings such as guarding or rigidity signifying acute appendicitis or peritonitis versus negative palpatory findings that are non-specific with minimal clinical value. Appropriate follow-up over time is a valued tool in the clinician’s armamentarium in the evaluation and management of acute abdominal pain.

Keywords: Abdominal pain, acute pain, adolescence, diagnosis