An Overview of Functional Abdominal Pain Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are frequently encountered in pediatric practice around the world; these encompass a variety of disorders that are chronic and recurrent in nature, which, although very characteristic of gastrointestinal tract involvement, lack evidence of any underlying structural or biochemical abnormalities.1 Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is reported to be one of the most common presenting manifestations of FGIDs. In fact, chronic abdominal pain in children and adolescents is more likely to be functional, in the context that objective evidence for an organic pathology is absent. Pain is generally restricted to periumbilical region or may even radiate to multiple sites. Children usually complain of pain in the morning on wakening, that improves by the day only to worsen again prior to bedtime. It becomes difficult for them to remain in bed and the pain may even delay the onset of sleep. Not only the severity of pain, but also associated pallor and lethargy reflect the parent’s concern in response to any suggestion of non-organic etiology. Nausea and headaches rarely have an organic basis and are frequently associated with FAP. Another hallmark of FAP is increased school absenteeism, while attendance is generally higher amongst children with organic diseases.2 Other than missing school, the likelihood of developing depressive symptoms and social isolation is greater among the affected lot, especially adolescents with frequent abdominal pain.3 These clinical vignettes of abdominal pain or discomfort, altered bowel habits, and other associated factors impose a huge socioeconomic burden on its sufferers and on society.