Abdominal pain
in children is a common problem. About one out of three children is seen by a
doctor for abdominal pain by the time they are 15, but only a small number of
these children have a serious problem.
Complaints of abdominal
pain are more common in children younger than 11 years old and are often caused
by changes in eating and bowel habits. Most cases of abdominal pain are not
serious, and home treatment is often all that is needed to help relieve the
discomfort.
Abdominal pain in children is often frightening and
frustrating for parents. Many times it is hard to find the exact cause of a
child's abdominal pain. Pain without other symptoms that goes away completely
in less than 3 hours is usually not serious.
Babies and toddlers often react
differently to pain than older children who can talk about their pain. A baby
may become fussy, draw his or her legs up toward the belly, or eat poorly.
Older children may be able to point to the area of the
pain and describe how severe it is.
Abdominal pain can occur one
time, or it can occur repeatedly over several months.
Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is a condition that
affects children between the ages of 4 and 11.
Review the
Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when your
child needs to see a doctor.
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
child's symptoms.
If your child has any of the
following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.
Does your child still have pain when pressing on the abdomen 1 hour after
an injury?
You may wait to see if your child's symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
child's symptoms.
Note:
If your child has had surgery, be sure to answer all
of the other Check Your Symptoms questions. Your answers to the other questions
will help your child's doctor determine the severity of the problem.
Call your child's health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
Do you think your child older than age 3 months has a moderate fever but
you are unable to measure his or her temperature?
You may wait to see if your child's symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
Do you
think that your child's abdominal pain may be caused by a medicine?
Note:
If your answer is "Yes":
Call the doctor who prescribed your
child's medicine to see whether your child should stop taking the medicine or
take a different one. An appointment may not be needed.
If your
child is taking a medicine not prescribed by a doctor, stop the medicine. Call
your child's doctor if you feel your child needs to keep taking the medicine or
if you need help controlling your child's symptoms after the medicine is
stopped.
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
child's symptoms.
If your child has any of the
following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.
Does your child still have pain when pressing on the abdomen 1 hour after
an injury?
You may wait to see if your child's symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
child's symptoms.
Note:
If your child has had surgery, be sure to answer all
of the other Check Your Symptoms questions. Your answers to the other questions
will help your child's doctor determine the severity of the problem.
Call your child's health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
Do you think your child older than age 3 months has a moderate fever but
you are unable to measure his or her temperature?
You may wait to see if your child's symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions.
Do you
think that your child's abdominal pain may be caused by a medicine?
Note:
If your answer is "Yes":
Call the doctor who prescribed your
child's medicine to see whether your child should stop taking the medicine or
take a different one. An appointment may not be needed.
If your
child is taking a medicine not prescribed by a doctor, stop the medicine. Call
your child's doctor if you feel your child needs to keep taking the medicine or
if you need help controlling your child's symptoms after the medicine is
stopped.
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.
Home Treatment
Most of the time, a child's
abdominal pain will get better with home treatment and will not need a visit to
a doctor.
Home treatment for abdominal pain often depends on other
symptoms that are present with the pain, such as diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
Be sure to review the home treatment for any other symptoms your child has by
looking in the Related Information section of this topic.
Try the
following, one at a time in the order listed, if your child has mild abdominal
pain without other symptoms:
Have your child rest when he or she has mild
stomachaches. Most symptoms will get better or go away in 30
minutes.
Have your child sip clear fluids, such as water, broth,
tea, or fruit juice diluted with water.
Have your child try to
pass a stool.
If the measures above do not work, you may also try
these:
Serve your child several small meals instead of
2 or 3 large ones.
Serve mild foods, such as rice, dry toast or
crackers, gelatin, or applesauce. Do not give your child spicy foods, other
fruits, and drinks that have caffeine or carbonation until 48 hours after all
symptoms have gone away. These foods may make your child's stomachache
worse.
Do not give your child any medicines without talking to the
doctor first. Medicines may mask the pain or make it worse.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to
evaluate your child's symptoms if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
Pain increases or localizes to one section of
the abdomen.
Pain does not go away within 24
hours.
Other symptoms develop, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,
or fever.
Pressing on the belly increases your child's
pain.
The belly feels hard or looks very
swollen.
Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
Prevention
Abdominal pain in children can often be
prevented.
Abdominal pain in children is often caused by
irregular bowel habits. Become familiar with your child's normal bowel
patterns. Also, be aware of the size and consistency of your child's stools.
This will help to determine whether constipation is a problem. For information
on preventing constipation and establishing toilet training, see the topic
Constipation, Age 11 and Younger.
Try to
make sure your child has regular eating habits. Overeating is a common cause of
abdominal discomfort. Have your child eat slowly and stop when he or she feels
full. For more information, see the topic
Healthy Eating for Children.
Swallowing
air (aerophagia) can cause abdominal pain and a swollen abdomen. Your child may
also have a lot of belching or flatus. Limit chewing gum and carbonated
beverages to help prevent this. Many children swallow air when they are anxious
or frightened.
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