Recurrent abdominal pain during childhood.

RAP offers a complex and often confusing array of symptoms and diagnostic possibilities. This may be due to its unique age of presentation, its inherent somatic and cognitive developmental issues, or the physiology of abdominal pain itself. A careful examination of the historic and physical findings should produce a therapeutic plan that addresses somatic, psychological, and environmental aspects of the child. This process will avoid overly simplistic and premature misdiagnosis or potentially unnecessary investigations that convey a sense of disinterest, haste, and disbelief in the problem. The successful management of RAP lies in the recognition that serious underlying disease frequently is not present and that time usually is on our side. It is the process of continued and thoughtful evaluation and reassurance over time that counts.