Abdominal pain – chronic
PAEDIATRIC
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If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
- Acute abdominal pain (suspected serious pathology) especially peritonitis
- Intussusception
- Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
- Suspected bowel obstruction with bile stained vomiting
- Suspected malignancy – discuss with on-call paediatric surgical registrar if serious pathology is suspected
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- Refer to local HealthPathways or local guidelines
- Most cases of chronic abdominal pain not responsive to simple measures such as treatment of constipation should be referred to general paediatric specialists
- For suspicion of serious GI disease, such as persistent vomiting, weight loss, dysphagia:
- Patients should be screened and referred to a general paediatrician rather than paediatric surgery
- For extra-intestinal symptoms, such as fever, rash, mouth ulcers, joint pain:
refer to gastroenterology (suspicion of IBD) or general paediatrics - Family history of peptic ulcer or IBD, should be screened and referred to a general paediatrician
- Suggestion of oesophagitis, discuss with gastroenterology or general paediatrician
- Constipation refractory to simple therapies – refer to general paediatrics initially*
- Constipation is a frequent cause of recurrent abdominal pain even with regular stooling and needs to be excluded and treated before referral to outpatients
- dietary advice, stool softener
- If there are signs of oesophagitis (such as epigastric pain or pain aggravated by meals), consulting general paediatrics for treatment guidance is recommended.
- Photograph – with patient’s consent, where secure image transfer, identification and storage is possible
- Paediatric surgery registrars at Queensland Children's Hospital/ GCUH/ Townsville can offer telephone advice to rural HHS. In some areas it would be more appropriate to seek initial advice from local paediatric medical service or general surgery services:
- Queensland Children's Hospital: 07 3068 1111
- Gold Coast University Hospital: 1300 744 284
- Townsville: 4433 3642 (4433 1111 Nights)
- In the majority of cases, it is thought inappropriate for children to wait more than 6 months for an outpatient initial appointment
- Next of kin or person(s) who is legally responsible for patient consent, with the exception of children under guardianship orders with the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services, should be present at the first outpatient appointment.
- If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services
- Statement of intent – the prioritisation of health services for children and young people in the child protection system
| Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days) |
*These conditions may be seen/referred to Paediatric Medicine |
| Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days) |
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| Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days) |
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Please insert the below information and minimum referral criteria into referral
1. Reason for request Indicate on the referral
- To establish a diagnosis
- For treatment or intervention
- For advice and management
- For specialist to take over management
- Reassurance for GP/second opinion
- For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
- Reassurance for the patient/family
- For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
- Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary
2. Essential referral information Referral will be returned without this
- Names of all clinicians involved in care of patient to date
- Previous surgical history, including operations
- History of pain occurring at night
- Pain localized away from the midline
- Stool results (if performed)
- MSU results (if performed)
- Abdominal XR/USS results – include images, rather than report alone
- Confirmation of OOHC (where appropriate)
3. Additional referral information Useful for processing the referral
- Operation reports and associated pathology reports (if any)
4. Request
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Patient's Demographic Details
- Full name (including aliases)
- Date of birth
- Residential and postal address
- Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
- Medicare number (where eligible)
- Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
- Preferred language and interpreter requirements
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Referring Practitioner Details
- Full name
- Full address
- Contact details – telephone, fax, email
- Provider number
- Date of referral
- Signature
Relevant clinical information about the condition
- Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
- Physical findings
- Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
- Current medications and dosages
- Drug allergies
- Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use
Reason for request
- To establish a diagnosis
- For treatment or intervention
- For advice and management
- For specialist to take over management
- Reassurance for GP/second opinion
- For a specified test/investigation the GP can't order, or the patient can't afford or access
- Reassurance for the patient/family
- For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
- Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary
Clinical modifiers
- Impact on employment
- Impact on education
- Impact on home
- Impact on activities of daily living
- Impact on ability to care for others
- Impact on personal frailty or safety
- Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
Other relevant information
- Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
- Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
- Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)
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If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.
Please note that where appropriate and where available, the referral may be streamed to an associated public allied health and/or nursing service. Access to some specific services may include initial assessment and management by associated public allied health and/or nursing, which may either facilitate or negate the need to see the public medical specialist.
A change in patient circumstance (such as condition deteriorating, or becoming pregnant) may affect the urgency categorisation and should be communicated as soon as possible.
Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.
Last updated: 4 December 2024
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