ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines a case scenario on recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) followed by a highly detailed explanation of the condition and its management, presenting the symptoms in a way that are likely to be encountered in general practice. John Apley first described RAP in 1958. Apley found the children who suffered from RAP were more likely to be ‘highly-strung, fussy, excitable, anxious, timid and apprehensive’. He also observed that they were more likely to have undue fears, suffer from nocturnal enuresis, sleep disorders and have appetite difficulties. Therapeutic options may be classified as pharmacological, psychosocial and dietary. The success of pharmacological therapy may be determined by the underlying cause of the pain. Simple analgesics may be used during flare-ups. A more helpful approach would be to consider RAP in the context of a biopsychosocial model of disease. Success with a single dietary component is unlikely and management should involve getting the child to keep a food and pain diary.
