Managing Acute Abdominal Emergencies in Children

Acute abdominal emergencies are common and challenging presentations in paediatric care, requiring rapid assessment and timely intervention. The burden of childhood abdominal conditions, such as appendicitis, intussusception, and infectious causes of acute abdominal pain, is complicated by inconsistent access to care, delayed presentation and high patient volumes. This places significant responsibility on frontline healthcare professionals to recognise red flags early, stabilise children effectively, and initiate appropriate referral pathways.

This course equips frontline health professionals with essential knowledge and skills in focused history-taking, clinical examination, and structured assessment, key to narrowing the diagnosis and improving outcomes for children. Strengthening competency skills according to the scope of practice enhances clinical confidence and may directly contribute to reducing morbidity and preventing avoidable complications, and ensures that every child receives timely, safe and evidence-based care.

About the course

Course Design: Self-directed
Duration: It will take about 4,5 hours to complete.
Eligibility for this course:
• Medical Officers
• Primary Care Nurse Specialists
• Registered Nurses (General & Speciality)
• WCDHW Trainers
• WCCN Lecturers & Clinical Facilitators
Accreditation: This course is accredited for:
• HPCSA: 4 Clinical CPD points (Level 1)
• WCDHW Nursing: 3 CPD points in Area of Practice
Certification: Participants need 70% pass mark for final quiz.
Published: October 2026

If you meet the eligibility criteria, apply to start:

Your supervisor details are required

Apply to enroll

Course outline

This course covers the following content:

Paediatric Emergency Series: Managing Acute Abdominal Emergencies in Children
Module 1: Introduction to abdominal emergencies in children Statistics Relevant abdominal anatomy Differences between children and adults Module 2: Focused history and examination General principles in paediatric history taking Important details Red flags on history Physical examination Red flags on examination Key signs to know Module 3: General guidance on special investigations The role of investigations Point-of-care and bedside tests Blood tests Imaging General principles for investigations in resource-limited settings Module 4: Initial management priorities ABCDE Resuscitation Fluid status assessment IV fluids: Management goals Fluid resuscitation in the shocked patient Ongoing fluid management Monitoring and reassessment Antibiotic stewardship Pain management Surgical consultation Module 5: Referral and communication Stabilise and resuscitate Pre-transfer checklist Communication Module 6: Assessment and management of specific abdominal emergencies of childhood Symptom profiles in surgical abdominal emergencies Module 7: Peritonism Peritonism vs abdominal tenderness Common causes of peritonism in children Module 8: Obstruction Causes of bowel obstruction in infants and children Module 9: Bile-stained vomiting Causes of bile-stained vomiting Clinical presentation Pitfalls and delays in diagnosis Emergency management Definitive management Core principles of surgical management Module 10: Lower GIT bleed Common causes of lower GIT bleeding Clinical presentation Examination tips Management and referral guidance Module 11: Upper GIT bleed Differential diagnoses Management of upper GIT bleeding Referral criteria Module 12: Abdominal masses Clinical examination Most common abdominal malignancies in childhood Acute emergencies in abdominal malignancies Red flags and referral Module 13: Medical mimics Medical acute abdomen mimics Module 14: Conclusion Summary of all the modules

Paediatric Emergency Series: Managing Acute Abdominal Emergencies in Children

Module 1: Introduction to abdominal emergencies in children
- Statistics
- Relevant abdominal anatomy
- Differences between children and adults
Module 2: Focused history and examination
- General principles in paediatric history taking
- Important details
- Red flags on history
- Physical examination
- Red flags on examination
- Key signs to know
Module 3: General guidance on special investigations
- The role of investigations
- Point-of-care and bedside tests
- Blood tests
- Imaging
- General principles for investigations in resource-limited settings
Module 4: Initial management priorities
- ABCDE Resuscitation
- Fluid status assessment
- IV fluids: Management goals
- Fluid resuscitation in the shocked patient
- Ongoing fluid management
- Monitoring and reassessment
- Antibiotic stewardship
- Pain management
- Surgical consultation
Module 5: Referral and communication
- Stabilise and resuscitate
- Pre-transfer checklist
- Communication
Module 6: Assessment and management of specific abdominal emergencies of childhood
- Symptom profiles in surgical abdominal emergencies
Module 7: Peritonism
- Peritonism vs abdominal tenderness
- Common causes of peritonism in children
Module 8: Obstruction
- Causes of bowel obstruction in infants and children
Module 9: Bile-stained vomiting
- Causes of bile-stained vomiting
- Clinical presentation
- Pitfalls and delays in diagnosis
- Emergency management
- Definitive management
- Core principles of surgical management
Module 10: Lower GIT bleed
- Common causes of lower GIT bleeding
- Clinical presentation
- Examination tips
- Management and referral guidance
Module 11: Upper GIT bleed
- Differential diagnoses
- Management of upper GIT bleeding
- Referral criteria
Module 12: Abdominal masses
- Clinical examination
- Most common abdominal malignancies in childhood
- Acute emergencies in abdominal malignancies
- Red flags and referral
Module 13: Medical mimics
- Medical acute abdomen mimics
Module 14: Conclusion
- Summary of all the modules

Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness
People Development Centre

Acknowledgements:

University of Cape Town’s Knowledge & Instructional Development (KIDS) Training Hub
Knowledge Translation Unit