Your child stumbles into your room at four in the morning and says he has a tummy ache. You are somewhat grumpy because it's four in the morning, but you are very concerned about your child's health. You're not alone. According to KidsGrowth.com, a pediatric website overseen by an advisory of medical doctors, recurrent abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints heard by physicians who treat children. However, not all stomach pain is the same. You should pay attention your child's pain to uncover the root of the problem.
Types of Stomach Pain
Abdominal pain can be felt in a variety of ways. Some abdominal pain is acute (sudden onset) while other abdominal pain is chronic (lasting for weeks or months). Pain can have different characteristics and present itself in different areas of the abdomen. A child may feel sharp pain in his upper abdomen or a dull, aching pain in his lower right abdomen. He may not be able to verbalize his pain, but you can ask him questions to document how long it lasts, note when it seems to get worse and point out what other signs you notice. For example, he may be vomiting or have diarrhea along with his stomach pain.
Common Physical Causes
Some common causes of stomach pain in children are gastroenteritis (the stomach flu), abdominal gas, milk allergy or lactose intolerance, upper respiratory illness and appendicitis. According to Babycenter.com, constipation is the most common stomach problem in younger children, as their diet becomes increasingly diverse and their digestive tracts are learning to adapt to new foods. If your child has not had a bowel movement for two to three days and he proceeds to pass insubstantial, hard stools, he is probably constipated.
Psychological Causes
Psychological factors can also cause stomach pain in children. The stomach and intestines are supplied with a lot of nerves that can contract in times of stress. Feelings of unhappiness, frustration and anxiety can therefore translate to stomach cramping and pain. Talk to your child about school, family, friends and extracurricular activities to see if you can uncover any emotional causes of abdominal discomfort. Even if he doesn't open up about his feelings, you may be able to find a correlation between his stomachaches and potential stressors. For example, he may frequently get a stomachache as soon as you are ready to drop him off at school.
Home Remedies
Some basic home remedies for mild stomach ailments are warmth, abdominal massage, simplified diet and relaxation. Let him lie flat with a heating pad or a warm water bottle on his stomach. Follow it up with a small abdominal massage by gently rubbing his stomach in a clockwise motion. Let his digestive tract rest by giving him plenty of clear fluids, soda crackers and chicken broth. Also spend some one-on-one time with him: watch a movie, read a book and cuddle him to relax his mind and stomach. Finally, if the stomach pain doesn't subside, you can give him some acetaminophen in a dose appropriate to his size and age.
When to See a Doctor
Some stomach pain can be caused by serious medical conditions that require immediate medical treatment. Seek medical advice if you notice that your child is vomiting, losing weight, losing blood through his gastrointestinal system, experiencing chronic diarrhea or having persistent pain in his lower right abdomen. Also take your child to see a doctor if he has an unexplained fever, if his growth rate has slowed and if your family has a history of inflammatory bowel disease.
