Management of acute AP
Adequate management of acute AP starts by taking detailed
history and performing physical examination, taking into
consideration the following:
■ Most of the time, AP is not caused by a serious medical
problem,but sometimes it can be a sign of a serious condition
■ Many cases of AP are caused by intestinal cramps, colic or
air-swallowing, so parents need reassurance in the event of
such diagnoses
■ Abdominal examination should be performed gently;
careful hands-off inspection being the first step. Distracting
the child while palpating the abdomen is very helpful. A
young child is best examined in a parent’s arms or lap. It is
worth asking the child to point with his or her finger to
the area ‘where it hurts most’
■ Before transfer,ensure that the child is in a stable condition,
with normal pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and
blood pressure
■ An intravenous (IV) access should be established if the pain
is severe or uncertain
■ Sedation or analgesia may sometimes be used; there is no
evidence it increases the risk of misdiagnosis
■ Gastroenteritis is probably associated with the highest
incidence of acute AP. Its management is outlined in Box 1
■ UTI is a common cause of AP. Its management is shown
in Box 2.
Case scenario 2
An 8-month-old girl presented to the A&E department
with vomiting and high fever for the previous 48 hours. On