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<article xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="1.0" article-type="family-medicine" lang="en">
<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">JOHS</journal-id>
<journal-id journal-id-type="nlm-ta">Journ of Health Scien</journal-id>
<journal-title-group>
<journal-title>Journal of HealthCare Sciences</journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="pubmed">Journ of Health Scien</abbrev-journal-title>
</journal-title-group>
<issn pub-type="ppub">2231-2196</issn>
<issn pub-type="opub">0975-5241</issn>
<publisher>
<publisher-name>Radiance Research Academy</publisher-name>
</publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">474</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">http://dx.doi.org/10.52533/JOHS.2025.51214</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi-url"/>
<article-categories>
<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
<subject>Family Medicine</subject>
</subj-group>
</article-categories>
<title-group>
<article-title>Approach to Recurrent Abdominal Pain in School-Aged Children With No Organic Findings
</article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Almughamsi</surname>
<given-names>Reyouf Abdulsalam</given-names>
</name>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Yahya</surname>
<given-names>Ahmad Hussain Al</given-names>
</name>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Al-marri</surname>
<given-names>Madhawi Mubarak</given-names>
</name>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Almutairi</surname>
<given-names>Manar Naser</given-names>
</name>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Meshari</surname>
<given-names>Amjad Mohammed</given-names>
</name>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Alfurhud</surname>
<given-names>Marwan Abdulaziz</given-names>
</name>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Almalki</surname>
<given-names>Ohood Mohammed</given-names>
</name>
</contrib>
</contrib-group>
<pub-date pub-type="ppub">
<day>16</day>
<month>12</month>
<year>2025</year>
</pub-date>
<volume>5</volume>
<issue>12</issue>
<fpage>817</fpage>
<lpage>822</lpage>
<permissions>
<copyright-statement>This article is copyright of Popeye Publishing, 2009</copyright-statement>
<copyright-year>2009</copyright-year>
<license license-type="open-access" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">
<license-p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence. You may share and adapt the material, but must give appropriate credit to the source, provide a link to the licence, and indicate if changes were made.</license-p>
</license>
</permissions>
<abstract>
<p>Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in school-aged children without identifiable organic causes remains a complex and common clinical presentation. It significantly affects daily functioning, including school attendance and emotional well-being, despite the absence of structural or biochemical abnormalities. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), as defined by the Rome IV criteria, offer a framework for understanding these cases, emphasizing the interaction between the brain and the gut in symptom development. Visceral hypersensitivity altered pain processing in the central nervous system, and dysregulated autonomic responses are frequently implicated in these children. Psychological comorbidities such as anxiety and somatization are prevalent, often influencing both the perception and reporting of pain. Family dynamics, parenting styles, and environmental stressors also contribute to the persistence and severity of symptoms. Diagnosis requires a careful balance between excluding organic pathology and avoiding excessive investigations. Clinical confidence often depends on the absence of alarm features and the use of structured criteria for functional diagnoses. Management strategies have evolved from pharmacologic treatment to more integrative, evidence-based approaches. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has demonstrated sustained improvement in both symptoms and school functioning. Dietary modifications, including low-FODMAP regimens, have shown benefits in selected subgroups. Long-term studies indicate that children with unresolved RAP are at increased risk of chronic pain and mental health disorders in adulthood. Early intervention focused on functional recovery, emotional regulation, and environmental support can significantly alter the clinical course. Collaborative care involving pediatricians, mental health professionals, and schools is essential for effective outcomes. A biopsychosocial understanding of RAP supports targeted intervention, reduces unnecessary testing, and promotes resilience in affected children. Recognition of functional abdominal pain as a legitimate and manageable condition is key to improving quality of life and preventing chronic health issues into adolescence and adulthood.
</p>
</abstract>
<kwd-group>
<kwd>recurrent abdominal pain</kwd>
<kwd> functional gastrointestinal disorders</kwd>
<kwd> school-aged children</kwd>
<kwd> cognitive behavioral therapy</kwd>
<kwd> biopsychosocial model</kwd>
</kwd-group>
</article-meta>
</front>
</article>