Abdominal pain with diarrhea in a child
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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When there are painful sensations and discomfort in the abdomen, forcing often to visit the toilet, even an adult will be alarmed. After all, these unpleasant symptoms can speak even of serious pathologies, not that of some kind of stomach upset due to excesses.
Even more difficult is the situation we are experiencing, if the stomach and diarrhea in the child hurts. In this case, the troubled parents of millet do not find their place, mentally drawing terrible pictures of a possible pathology. And their anxiety can be understood, because despite the small age, children can also show serious health problems.
Causes of the 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 characteristic of childhood. Adults may not even notice the symptoms of the disease, while the child will be feverish, suffer from abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea.
In childhood, hereditary pathologies associated with a violation of the production of enzymes and the digestibility of certain components of food products can be detected. Often children have food allergies, accompanied by diarrhea and discomfort in the abdomen, because the immune system in the child is not so strong and often works incorrectly.
At children not less often, than at adults, cases of an acute appendicitis are fixed. Therefore, the appearance of severe pain in the abdomen on the right, intensifying with pressure on the sore spot, loose stools, nausea and a fever of 40 degrees or more, should strongly alarm parents to become a signal to urgently call for an ambulance.
Babies - people are very active, so more prone to injury. So a blow to the abdomen or an unsuccessful fall can cause inflammation of the pancreas, and then the baby will complain of pain in the abdomen to the left, his appetite will decrease, and complaints of nausea will appear.
The nutrition of the child is not always under the control of the parents. If adults understand the consequences of using unwashed products, unboiled water and unripe fruit, then the child's words about the danger seem an absurd joke. In addition, any prohibitions further attract the attention of the little man. And no matter how tasteless the green plum or apricot seemed, the child still wants to understand for himself how his disobedience will end. And it ends usually with an intestinal disorder or bacterial poisoning.
To the pain and frustration of the intestines can lead and improper nutrition: overeating, the use of poor quality foods, heavy for digestion of dishes, late hearty supper.
In adolescence, there are often problems associated with malnutrition. Excessive enthusiasm for fast food and various unuseful, but so attractive, delicacies in the form of various snacks with flavoring additives cause problems not only with the stomach or pancreas, but also with the intestines. Disturbance of motility and congestion in the colon can manifest as pain and stool disorders (constipation or diarrhea). At this age, chronic diseases of the digestive system are also common.
In adolescent girls, the soreness of the lower abdomen and the defecation disorder can be associated with monthly and hormonal changes. Sometimes such violations occur when a teenager begins to live sexually. But it is impossible to exclude and inflammatory gynecological diseases (vulvitis, vaginitis, etc.).
The causes of the appearance of pain and diarrhea in infants are not less, but they are somewhat cast. After all, a newborn child is not fully formed, many organs and systems, including the digestive system.
The beginning of problems can become breastfeeding. Incorrect attachment to the breast, violation of the act of sucking in certain congenital pathologies can cause the baby to swallow the air during feeding, which then accumulates in the intestines, leading to swelling and painful colic. A liquid stool in a child of the first months of life is not a pathology, unless it is accompanied by other alarming symptoms: crying, fever, lethargy, etc.
The cause of a stomach upset in a child who is breastfed may be an incorrect diet of the mother. For example, the use of products that cause increased gas production.
Problems with the tummy may also appear during the introduction of complementary foods. The enzyme system in the child is not yet so formed that it is easy to digest various foods and even in large quantities. It is for this reason that pediatricians recommend feeding gradually, beginning with minimum portions of easily digestible vegetables. It is also important to monitor the total amount of food, avoiding overeating.
If the child is on artificial feeding, it is worth paying attention to the used milk formula. Perhaps it just does not fit the baby, whose body rejects certain components of food.
In some cases, at this age, lactose intolerance can already be detected. Presence in milk mixtures or breastfeeding with such pathology will create problems with digestion in the baby.
Problems can arise with the assimilation of gluten. And it is not always in hereditary pathology. The reason may be a deficiency of enzymes, which is quite understandable at such a tender age. Not in vain because babies are not recommended to give bread and pasta, which are famous for the increased content of gluten.
Treatment of the abdominal pain with diarrhea in a child
Treatment of various infectious pathologies with antibiotics at any age can lead to the development of dysbiosis with the abdominal pain inherent in it and problematic defecation. If you do not pay attention to this disease, you 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 suffer a difficult separation from their parents and an unfavorable situation in the family. Such stressors can cause unexplained abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, not related to eating or sickness of the child.
What to take with abdominal pain with diarrhea read in this article.