Unintentional weight loss is a symptom that should never be ignored, especially when accompanied by pain. The digestive tract--especially in children--can easily be affected by physical and emotional changes in your child's life. Although the cause is likely benign in children, if symptoms persist after a few days of home care, seek advice from your health care provider.
Gastritis
Gastritis is any inflammation of the digestive tract from a simple bacteria to irritation from something a child ate. Bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori can cause recurrent bouts of gastritis which will cause stomach pain, loss of appetite and weight loss. The Johns Hopkins Children's Center reports other symptoms of Helicobacter pylori gastritis as mild nausea, belching, heartburn and being hungry one to three hours after eating. Medication usually resolves the issue.
Anxiety
Children most often exhibit anxiety through physical symptoms including weight loss and stomach pain. If you've ruled out physical illnesses, consider talking to your child about his fears and what is happening at school. You can also keep a log of when the stomach pain occurs and how long the weight loss has continued to help you understand anxiety triggers for your child. Additionally it's unusual for an anxiety disorder such as obsessive-compulsive disorder to begin in childhood, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Childhood Cancer
Childhood cancer is very rare, reports the Pediatric Oncology Resource Center, but unexplained weight loss is a symptom of several different types of cancers. If your child suffers from unexplained weight loss and pain other symptoms including frequent bruising, lethargy, loss of appetite and/or headaches it's best to have her evaluated by a physician. Some types of cancer that specifically list weight loss as a symptom include leukemia, neuroblastoma, lymphoma and bone cancer.
Juvenile Diabetes
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation lists sudden unexplained weight loss as one of the symptoms of Type 1, or juvenile onset, diabetes. Although pain does not always accompany the weight loss, it is usually accompanied by frequent thirst and urination as well as changes in vision, lethargy and sweet or fruity-smelling breath. If you child has these symptoms seek immediate medical attention as juvenile diabetes is a life-threatening disorder.
