The acute abdomen in childhood

The acute abdomen in childhood demands early diagnosis for the sake of appropriate and early therapy. A high number of differential diagnosis in the assessment of acute abdominal pain and problems, as well as different causes of diseases in different age, of the children, make a partition with respect to the age of the children considerable. A partition in diseases, which are leading to acute abdominal pain in neonates, in toddlers and small infants and in schoolchildren makes sense. In older schoolchildren and adolescents also diseases of the grown up generation are possible as a cause of acute abdominal pain. The lack of compliance (cooperation and communication) in small children obstructs clinical and radiological assessment and elucidates the necessity of knowledge of causes of acute abdominal pain as much as possible. A lot of patience and experience are mandatory in the evaluation of small children and therefore make a dedicated, trained and experienced stuff necessary. A dedicated paediatric radiologist will find a safe and proper technique, and in cooperation with the referring clinician the necessary decision for therapy will be made.