Pediatric stomach pain after eating is a common complaint. Pain that develops in your child's stomach after eating can be related to different conditions. Most likely your child has food poisoning, a food allergy or a gastrointestinal infection -- such as the stomach flu. Only your child's pediatrician can provide a diagnosis and treatment options for your child's condition. Do not attempt to treat the pain without first consulting a doctor.
Food Poisoning
Your child may have food poisoning, which occurs when a food or beverage is consumed that is contaminated with infectious organisms. Food poisoning can result from virtually any food that contains bacteria, a virus, parasite or toxin. Most food poisoning cases are a result of poor food handling, cross-contamination or contamination during the manufacturing process. Most cases of food poisoning can be prevented by not giving your child leftovers, washing your hands before handing food and keeping foods and beverages refrigerated or frozen. Treat food poisoning with a modified diet and increase fluid intake.
Food Allergy
Food allergies are most commonly found in children. Stomach pain will develop within minutes after your child eats a food to which she is allergic. The most common foods that trigger allergic reactions in children are milk, soy, wheat, eggs, fish, nuts and peanuts. If the stomach pain is from a food allergy, you will notice additional signs and symptoms. These include skin rashes, skin inflammation, wheezing, coughing, chest pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and nasal congestion. The most effective treatment for a food allergy is to identify and avoid the food allergen.
Food Intolerance
Food intolerance causes stomach pain. Food intolerance differs from food allergies, because it is the result of a digestive malfunction and not an immune system reaction. Common foods that children are intolerant toward are milk proteins, gluten, lactose, monosodium glutamate and fructose. You will notice digestive complications and pain develop within two hours after your child ingests a food. Food intolerance has no cure, aside from avoidance.
Stomach Infection
If your child has a stomach infection, also called gastroenteritis, he will develop stomach pain after eating. The most common stomach infection is the stomach flu, which is not caused by the influenza virus. The stomach flu is a viral infection of the lining of the intestines. The stomach flu will cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and fever. Most cases of the stomach flu last for one to three days, but symptoms may continue for up to 10 days.
