Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for a parent to being their child into the doctor. It can be hard for you and your physician to assess the severity of your child’s stomach ache because your child may have difficulty expressing his or her exact symptoms. The possible causes for your child’s abdominal pain could range from trivial to life-threatening, but chances are that your child’s complaints will be roughly the same no matter what.
Causes of Abdominal Pain in Children
Though most stomach troubles with children will resolve themselves within a day or two, there are other problems that require medical attention. The most common causes for this type of abdominal pain include:
- Food-related problems: If the onset is rapid after eating, abdominal pain could be due to things like food poisoning or food allergies, as well as something as simple as eating too much or excessive gas.
- Infections: Infections can be viral (such as the flu) or bacterial (such as a urinary tract infection), and the difference between symptoms can be difficult to tell. Usually only a doctor would be able to tell you if your child is suffering from a viral infection that will go away quickly or a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics to get better.
- Poisoning: Young children might consume something that can cause stomach problems. This could range from something simple, like eating soap, to something much more serious, such as swallowing prescription medications or batteries.
- Other causes: Other medical conditions can sometimes cause abdominal pain as well, such as diabetes complications or even spider bites.
Symptoms of Abdominal Pain in Children
Since abdominal pain alone can be difficult to diagnose, ask or evaluate your child about other symptoms that could lead to the cause of the pain. For example, pay attention to the duration of the pain, ask your child about the exact location of the pain, assess the overall appearance of your child to see if they look “ill,” observe the color and frequency of their vomit and diarrhea, ask if they are having trouble urinating, check them for any visible rash, and check their temperature often for the presence of a high fever. Knowing these things will help your doctor be able to give a better and more accurate diagnosis.
Treatment of Abdominal Pain in Children
Most often, abdominal pain is able to be treated with home care. Rest and plenty of fluids will heal most minor problems. Avoid giving your child aspirin or other medications unless specifically directed by your doctor. If your child has a mild fever, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be given in small doses. It is a good rule of thumb to seek medical attention if your child has a high fever, has had diarrhea or has been vomiting for longer than 24 hours.
Medical treatment can vary from simple antibiotics to hospital admission and/or surgery, depending on the exact diagnosis of your child’s condition.
