At a glance: common (abdominal) surgical conditions in children.

In children, surgical conditions of the abdomen can present with rather non-specific symptoms akin to other common, self-limiting pathologies. These factors can impede diagnosis and the rapid specialist management that is often required. Community practitioners are often the first health professional to see the sick child and advise their caregivers. Therefore it is of upmost importance that they are equipped and confident in their knowledge of the potential surgical conditions that they may encounter in their clinical practice. Suspicion of a serious surgical disorder or a deteriorating child warrants prompt referral to a medical professional. This article aims to provide an overview of the most common abdominal surgical conditions in children and to provide information and suggestions to the community practitioner in order to broadly enhance their outcomes.