Peter F. Belamarich, MD, 2016. "Abdominal Distention (Chapter 124)", American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care, Thomas K. McInerny, MD, FAAP, Henry M. Adam, MD, FAAP, Deborah E. Campbell, MD, FAAP, Thomas G. DeWitt, MD, FAAP, Jane Meschan Foy, MD, FAAP, Deepak M. Kamat, MD, PhD, FAAP, Rebecca Baum, MD, FAAP, Kelly J. Kelleher, MD, MPH, FAAP
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Abdominal distention can be a challenging clinical problem. There are no statistical definitions of distention available to pediatricians; therefore, determining what is likely to be pathological distention takes experience that includes many examinations of children of various ages in illness and in health.
Establishing the precise cause of abdominal distention in childhood from the history and physical examination alone can be also be difficult. The number of possible diagnoses is very large, and the most likely diagnoses vary greatly with the age of the child. Furthermore, not all distention is pathological. Healthy infants may have variable degrees of abdominal distention...
