Medical expert of the article
New publications
Abdominal pain with diarrhea in a child
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

When painful sensations and discomfort in the abdomen appear, forcing you to frequently visit the toilet, even an adult will be seriously alarmed. After all, these unpleasant symptoms can even indicate serious pathologies, not to mention some kind of stomach upset due to excesses.
We experience such a situation even more difficult if the child has a stomach ache and diarrhea. In this case, worried parents simply cannot find a place for themselves, mentally drawing scary pictures of a possible pathology. And their anxiety is understandable, because despite their young age, children can also be found to have serious health pathologies.
Causes abdominal pain with diarrhea in a child
Abdominal pain and diarrhea in a child, as in adults, can be caused by food poisoning and intestinal infections. Such pathologies in children occur even more often and are more severe. Often with a noticeable increase in temperature.
Rotavirus and enterovirus infections are also more common in childhood. Adults may not even notice the symptoms of the disease, while the child will have a fever, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea.
In childhood, hereditary pathologies associated with impaired enzyme production and digestibility of certain food components can also be detected. Children often develop food allergies, accompanied by diarrhea and abdominal discomfort, because the child's immune system is not yet so strong and often does not work correctly.
Children are no less likely than adults to have cases of acute appendicitis. Therefore, the appearance of severe pain in the abdomen on the right, intensifying when pressing on the sore spot, loose stools, nausea and a rise in temperature to 40 degrees and above, should greatly worry parents and become a signal to urgently call an ambulance.
Children are very active people, therefore they are more susceptible to injuries. So, a blow to the stomach or an unsuccessful fall can cause inflammation of the pancreas, and then the baby will complain of pain in the stomach on the left, his appetite will decrease, and complaints of nausea will appear.
The child's nutrition is not always under the control of parents. If adults understand the consequences of eating unwashed food, unboiled water and unripe fruit, then for a child, the words of adults about the danger seem like an absurd joke. In addition, any prohibitions attract the attention of a small person even more. And no matter how tasteless a green plum or apricot may seem, the child still wants to understand for himself how his disobedience will end. And it usually ends with an intestinal disorder or bacterial poisoning.
Pain and intestinal upset can also be caused by poor nutrition: overeating, eating poor-quality foods, foods that are difficult to digest, and a late, heavy dinner.
In adolescence, problems associated with poor nutrition often arise. Excessive passion for fast food and various unhealthy, but so attractive delicacies in the form of various snacks with flavor additives become the cause of problems not only with the stomach or pancreas, but also with the intestines. Impaired motility and congestion in the colon can manifest as pain and stool disorders (constipation or diarrhea). At this age, chronic diseases of the digestive organs are already common.
In teenage girls, lower abdominal pain and bowel movements may be related to menstruation and hormonal changes. Sometimes such disorders occur when a teenager begins to have sex. However, inflammatory gynecological diseases (vulvitis, vaginitis, etc.) cannot be ruled out.
There are no fewer reasons for the appearance of pain and diarrhea in infants, but they are somewhat different. After all, many organs and systems, including the digestive system, are not fully formed in a newborn child.
Problems may begin with breastfeeding. Incorrect attachment to the breast, disruption of the sucking act in some congenital pathologies may cause the baby to swallow air during feeding, which then accumulates in the intestines, leading to bloating and painful colic. And loose stools in a child in the first months of life are not a pathology if it is not accompanied by other alarming symptoms: crying, fever, lethargy, etc.
The cause of stomach upset in a breastfed baby may be the mother's improper diet. For example, eating foods that cause increased gas formation.
Tummy troubles may also appear during the introduction of complementary foods. The child's enzymatic system is not yet developed enough to easily digest various products, especially in large quantities. For this reason, pediatricians recommend introducing complementary foods gradually, starting with minimal portions of easily digestible vegetables. At the same time, it is important to monitor the total amount of food, preventing overeating.
If the child is bottle-fed, it is worth paying attention to the milk formula used. Perhaps it is simply not suitable for the baby, whose body rejects some components of food.
In some cases, lactose intolerance can already be detected at this age. The presence of milk in formulas or breastfeeding with such a pathology will create problems with digestion in the baby.
Problems with gluten absorption may also arise. And it is not always a matter of hereditary pathology. The reason may be a deficiency of enzymes, which is quite understandable at such a tender age. It is not for nothing that infants are not recommended to be given bread and pasta, which are famous for their high gluten content.
Treatment abdominal pain with diarrhea in a child
Treatment of various infectious pathologies with antibiotics at any age can lead to the development of dysbacteriosis with its characteristic abdominal pain and problematic bowel movements. If this disease is ignored, it can provoke not only chronic diarrhea, but also many other pathologies. After all, our immunity is directly dependent on the state of the intestinal microflora.
Children of any age usually have a hard time coping with separation from their parents and an unfavorable family environment. Such stress factors can cause unexplained abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting that are not related to food intake or the child's illness.
What to take for stomach pain with diarrhea, read in this article.