Recurrent Functional Bellyaches: Is There a Role for Medicine?

A systematic review highlights the dearth of effective pharmacologic agents currently available.

Recurrent abdominal pain without a physical cause occurs in approximately 20% of school-age and adolescent patients. The current term to describe this condition, abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorder (AP-FGID), has several subtypes, including irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, abdominal migraine, and functional abdominal pain.

To review efficacy data on pharmacological therapies for AP-FGID, researchers conducted a systematic review and identified six randomized, controlled trials in a total of 275 children aged 4 to 18 years. The overall quality of all studies was low.

Compared with placebo agents, peppermint oil (an antispasmodic) significantly improved symptom severity (76% vs. 19%) and cyproheptadine (an…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics