Why you should read this article:

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To understand when abdominal X-rays in children are indicated and prevent their unnecessary use

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To enhance your knowledge of the procedure for abdominal X-rays in children and their interpretation

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To identify conditions for which abdominal X-rays are commonly requested in children

Abdominal X-rays (AXRs) are often used as an imaging modality in children who present with abdominal pain with a suspected serious underlying pathology. Nausea, vomiting and constipation that are unresponsive to treatment may also prompt a request for an AXR in a child. Nurses play an important role in ensuring that requests for AXRs in children are appropriate and that the procedure is performed safely. This is the second of two articles on the use of AXRs for diagnosing abdominal pathologies in childhood. The first article focused on AXRs in neonates. This one focuses on AXRs in children, discussing their indications, procedure and interpretation and describing abdominal conditions in children for which an AXR is likely to support diagnosis.