ABDOMINAL PAIN

ABDOMINAL PAIN:

There are many causes of abdominal pain in children including:
- Benign condition such as gas pain, indigestion and over eating.
- Chronic conditions such as emotional stress, constipation, and lactose intolerance.
- Acute infections and illnesses such as appendicitis, stomach viruses and urinary tract infections.

Generally the more benign causes of abdominal pain resolve with-in a couple of hours. The more serious forms often result in increasingly severe abdominal pain, which also becomes more constant. The following list may help guide you in caring for your child. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office to discuss your child’s course in more detail.

Constipation - Constipation is characterized by the difficulty (pain or inability) to have a bowel movement, often resulting in severe intermittent abdominal discomfort. Treatment includes increasing fluids and fiber in the diet. It may also require suppositories or enemas to soften the hard immobile stool, and/or laxatives to stimulate the intestine to pass the stool.

Stomach Virus - (see vomiting and diarrhea)

Urinary Tract Infection – Urinary Tract Infections are very common in girls, and rarely also occur in boys. Symptoms include pain/burning with urination, frequent (passing small amount of urine frequently), urgency (a sense of not being able to wait to urinate), urinary incontinence lower abdominal tenderness and sometimes fever or vomiting. Children with these symptoms should be seen in our office and a clean-catch urine should be sent for culture. Treatment generally includes antibiotics to treat the bacteria, and increase fluid intake.

Appendicitis – Appendicitis can occur in children of all ages typically, it is characterized initially by poorly defined mid-abdominal pain. The pain then migrates (usually after several hours) to the right lower abdomen. Associated symptoms may include loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, low-grade fever, and discomfort with walking or moving. Treatment is surgical, and should not be delayed.

Emotionally Based Abdominal Pain – Stress in children is often manifested by chronic abdominal discomfort. Generally the discomfort is intermittent and less severe than other types of abdominal pain. It often results in frequent visits to the school nurse and or missed days from school. If this type of abdominal pain is suspected, a physical exam should be done to exclude other medical conditions, and to identify steps needed to help your child through the stress.

The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional care.
You should consult your own physician or other health care provider for specific advice and treatment,
which advice and treatment will be based upon your individual facts and circumstances.