Abdominal pain in children

Children often complain of abdominal pain. As a rule, the parents do not cause such symptoms. Often, so it is: the cause of abdominal pain in children may be constipation, overeating, upset stomach and other gastrointestinal temporary ailments. If the pain lasts for several hours, it is worthwhile to see a doctor and conduct a survey.

[1], [2], [3]

Causes of abdominal pain in children

If the child suddenly complains of a pain in the abdomen, it is not worthwhile to raise panic ahead of time. First of all, we must pay attention to the age of the child, because some diseases are of an age-related nature. By the way, the nature of pain can also tell a lot. There are two types of abdominal pain: acute (single) and chronic (recurring).

Chronic pain, which until a few months periodically resumes and is accompanied by additional symptoms, for example, diarrhea, indicates possible stress. Most often this is manifested due to emotional stress on the background of schooling, parents quarreling or tragedy in the family.

Physiological factors, for example, insomnia, diarrhea, intolerance to fats and sugars, can also be the cause of recurring pain. Do not often pamper children with sweet, highly carbonated drinks, coffee, as this can also cause abdominal pain. Ulcers of intestinal walls, Crohn's disease, colon ulcer colitis, diarrhea with bloody discharge, weight loss, anemia can also be a source of pain.

Acute pain, which does not pass for several hours and has a spontaneous manifestation, can signal both more serious problems and an improper diet. Pain in the abdomen in children may be accompanied by symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea. To better understand how to treat a child, you need to immediately seek advice from a pediatrician.

[4], [5]

Age features of abdominal pain in children

[6]

Infants under six months of age:

• colic (the remains of air in the digestive organs);
• occlusion of the stomach;
• constipation.

Usually these factors of abdominal pain in children are accompanied by crying, anxiety, poor sleep and disappear, in most cases with the growing up of an infant. 

Children aged 6 months: 

• inflammation of the stomach and intestines (gastritis, colitis, gastroenteritis);
• inguinal hernia (swelling in the lower abdomen, coming out in the groin area);
• respiratory diseases. 

These factors are infectious in nature and are accompanied by loss of appetite, vomiting and pain in the lower abdomen. If there are pain in the groin, you should prepare for surgery, but do not confuse the inguinal hernia with inflammation in the scrotum. In any case, the further actions of the parents should be coordinated by the attending physician.

[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14]

Children of preschool age:

• constipation;
• urinary tract infections;
• pneumonia;
• sickle-cell anemia;
• food poisoning.

Constipation may disappear after defecation. Infection of the urinary tract is accompanied by high fever and cuts in the genital area during urination. When pneumonia appears cough, pain in the chest. With anemia, it hurts the back, chest, arms and legs.

[15], [16], [17]

Children of school age:

• inflammatory processes in the lining tissues of the gastrointestinal tract (gastroenteritis);
• viruses and infections;
• abdominal trauma;
• pneumonia;
• urinary tract infections;
• sickle-cell anemia;
• acute appendicitis;
• painful menstruation, infectious inflammation of pelvic organs, venereal diseases (for girls).

[18], [19], [20]

Symptoms of abdominal pain in children

Some symptoms, as we have already mentioned, suggest that parents should take their child to the doctor. Here are some of them:

• nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
• diarrhea and bloody discharge in the stool,
• duration of pain - more than 2 hours,
• drowsiness, apathy, lack of exercise,
• manifestation of abdominal pain in the child when walking,
• night pain in the abdomen, interfering with sleep,
• rezy in the testicle,
• weight loss,
• abdominal injury,
• tumor and pulsating movements inside the abdomen,
• resumption of pain during or after a meal,
• resumption of pain before going to the toilet "big",
• the appearance of pain when pressed on the stomach,
• violation of norms in blood and urine tests,
• infection of the urethra.

Treatment of abdominal pain in children

If any of the above symptoms pass by themselves, then do not worry much. Most likely, the pain will recede itself. To make sure that the abdominal pain does not have any serious grounds, it will be enough to create a calm emotional environment around the child, to calm him if he is very worried. If the pain is accompanied by vomiting, fever, swelling, or bloating, if the pain is not normal, then in no case should you try to treat the child yourself, so as not to harm him even more. In case of appendicitis, immediately call an ambulance. Any further treatment can be prescribed only by a pediatrician. The main thing - no self-treatment, at least without prior consultation of a doctor, and even think about what kind of pill to give the child. Without a pediatrician's diagnosis, even an enema should not be put.

Often, with renewed pain, it makes sense to think about whether the child is feeding properly. Therefore, for any pain in the abdomen in children, if it is associated with digestive disorders, it is necessary to emphasize in the diet of the child the natural plant products: juices, fruits, vegetables, cereals, fresh greens.

If the pain is accompanied by additional symptoms, then parents should think about the psychoemotional state of their offspring.

In the presence of serious factors that accompany pain in the abdomen in children, affecting the health of the child's doctor, in the first place, appoints a physical examination and laboratory tests of urine, blood and feces, gastrointestinal tract scanning, barium studies, endoscopy. In some cases, it may be necessary to consult a surgeon, as well as medical treatment, for example with gastroenteritis. More serious cases, such as infectious diseases or the presence of a tumor, require inpatient treatment.