Abdominal pain is a common complain in children. According to American Family Physician, most children with abdominal pain have self-limited benign conditions. The location of abdominal pain can offer clues as to its cause. Organs located in the left side of the abdomen include the stomach, the large intestine and the spleen. Common causes intermittent left-sided abdominal pain in children includes gastroenteritis, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease and kidney stones.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis, commonly known as the stomach flu or food poisoning, is an infection of the stomach and the intestines, usually caused by viruses and bacteria. In children, rotavirus the most common cause of gastroenteritis and a leading cause of childhood hospitalizations. The symptoms of gastroenteritis include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, as a result of the gastritis, or inflammation, caused by frequent vomiting. Treatment of gastroenteritis is symptomatic, with oral or intravenous fluids and over-the-counter medicines to control the pain.
Constipation
Constipation is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain in children. According to the Mayo Clinic, constipation is defined as the passage of hard, dry stools or by having infrequent bowel movements. The symptoms of constipation include intermittent left-sided abdominal pain, although some children have a hard time localizing it to a specific area; nausea and infrequent and painful bowel movements, which can lead to further avoidance or fear of going to the bathroom. Treatment includes dietary changes, with increases in the consumption of high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables, laxatives and stool softeners.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The term inflammatory bowel disease refers to two conditions: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, or chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Children and adolescents with ulcerative colitis have inflammation localized to the colon, or large intestine, while patients with Crohn's disease can have inflammation anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. According to the Merck Manuals, the initial symptoms of ulcerative colitis include lower abdominal and left-sided pain and cramps accompanied by bloody diarrhea. Children with Crohn's can have left abdominal pain if the inflammation is located in that part of the abdomen, but more often have generalized abdominal pain, fever and weight loss. Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease includes chronic nutritional supplementation, anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids and other medicines to modulate the body's immune response to decrease the inflammation.
