Why does my child have stomach pains?

overview

• Viral infections can lead to temporary lactose intolerance.
• Anxiety can cause physical symptoms, including abdominal pain and bloating.
• Constipation can also often lead to abdominal pain in children.

Possible reasons for abdominal pain

“My stomach hurts,” parents hear a lot. Almost every fourth child of school age suffers from abdominal pain from time to time. The causes are not always easy to pinpoint because there are so many possible triggers. Anxiety and psychological stress can lead to abdominal pain because there is a two-way signaling system between the digestive system and the brain. The research speaks of the gut-brain axis.

“The most important factor is the question of the appearance of the child. If it looks healthy, that’s a very reassuring sign ,” explains Dr. Tommy Södergren, Pediatric Advisor at Med-Healths.

“Get the child to move: If there is no pain during the movement, that is also a good sign. Ask your child if they would like one of their favorite foods. If it says ‘yes’ then it’s pretty unlikely there’s a serious problem.”

Here are some common causes of abdominal pain in children – and tips on how to relieve them.

constipation

Constipation is a common cause of abdominal pain, especially in young children during toilet training.

These signs may indicate constipation:

• Feces that are large and hard, appearing like small balls or rabbit feces
• infrequent bowel movements (less than 3 times a week)
• painful bowel movements
• Bleeding during or shortly after a bowel movement
• Abdominal pain that subsides after a bowel movement
• soiled underwear; caused by diarrhea that leaks around the hard feces when constipated

dr Södergren recommends: “Encourage the child to go to the toilet if possible.” Offer your child prunes or high-fiber snacks. Alternatively, you can ask your doctor or pharmacy for a suitable laxative. To prevent constipation, the child should drink enough water and eat fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and legumes.

Make sure the child can support their feet on the floor or a footstool while using the toilet or potty. Make the “session” as fun and relaxed as possible. Is your child afraid to use the toilet outside of the house? Then you can encourage them to go to the bathroom right after breakfast or an after-school snack.

If the problem persists, take your child to the doctor.

Too much air in the stomach

Cramps and severe, wavy abdominal pain can be caused by excess air in the abdomen. Babies suffer particularly often. However, the problem can appear throughout childhood.

dr Södergren says he’s seen parents take their child to the emergency room – only to find the pain gone. Movement while driving could burst the large gas bubbles that were causing the pain. You can achieve the same effect by encouraging your child to move. Or you put it in the stroller and push it over uneven terrain.

Gas build-up can occur because a child’s digestive tract is immature and sensitive to disturbances. If this happens frequently, you should keep a food diary. This is how you can find out whether certain foods cause stomach pains in your child. Air in the stomach and flatulence can indicate lactose intolerance or gluten intolerance, for example.

mental stress

The fact that the psyche can trigger abdominal pain does not mean that the child is only imagining the pain. When something gives us a “stomach punch” or “butterflies in the stomach,” it’s because of the complex chemical and neural signals that travel back and forth between our brain and gut. “The stomach is the window to the psyche,” says Dr. Sodergren.

Anxiety, stress, and other psychological strains can cause pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and other physical symptoms. Other indications are lack of concentration, sleeping problems, irritability and attachment or fidgeting.

The first step is always to talk to your child. Together with teachers you can find out whether there are problems outside of the parental home.

The viral infection

Infections are easier to spot because they are usually accompanied by diarrhea and/or vomiting . The pain is rather general, widespread, and the bowel often makes gurgling sounds .

Rest and adequate hydration are generally all that is required in such cases. dr Södergren says parents shouldn’t worry if their child doesn’t eat for a day or two. “Such viral infections can lead to temporary lactose intolerance. So it’s a good idea to go without milk for a few days,” he adds.

Encourage the child to fold down the toilet seat when flushing to minimize aerosol transmission of the virus. Also, make sure they wash their hands thoroughly.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Urinary tract infections can cause abdominal pain and are equally common in boys and girls during childhood. This is because in children, the distance between the urethra (the opening of the urinary tract) and the rectum (the source of the bacteria that cause the infection) is still short.

If the child complains of sharp pains when urinating and needs to go to the bathroom more often than usual, they probably have a urinary tract infection , says Dr. Sodergren. Sometimes children with urinary tract infections have a fever , wet themselves or try to hold in their urine for as long as possible.

Most infections clear up within 48 hours. If the symptoms don’t go away, you should take your child to the doctor. Teach your child to always wipe their butt from front to back to reduce the risk.

When to call a doctor

dr Södergren emphasizes that there is usually no serious cause behind the abdominal pain. “If the pain isn’t severe and there are no other symptoms, you should call the doctor in a few days if it doesn’t get better. But call the doctor right away if the pain gets worse.”

Warning signs you should definitely not ignore

However, there are some symptoms that you must not ignore. See a doctor right away if your child develops any of the following symptoms, among others:

• extreme pain that no painkillers help
• the child becomes pale and limp
• cold hands and feet
• the child is sleepy and difficult to wake up
• pain in the testicles

3 examples of abdominal pain in children that require immediate medical attention

Appendicitis (Appendicitis)

This is the medical emergency parents think of first when they experience severe abdominal pain. It is caused by inflammation of the appendix. This is a 5 to 10 cm long tube that hangs from the large intestine. The first sign is usually an intermittent pain in the middle of the abdomen, which quickly shifts to the lower right and develops into a very strong permanent pain.

“The pain gets worse when you walk, cough, or press on the area,” explains Dr. Sodergren. Other symptoms include nausea , fever and altered bowel movements. Appendicitis requires immediate medical attention.

Hodentorsion

Testicular torsion occurs when a testicle twists in the scrotum and blood supply is cut off. It is most common in teenagers, but can also occur in younger children. The pain is severe and usually radiates to the groin. A testicular torsion must be operated on as quickly as possible.

poisoning

Potential household toxins include household cleaners, medicines, pesticides, some plants and fungi, alcohol, and recreational drugs. Poisonous carbon monoxide can also be released from defective boilers. Depending on which poison was ingested, different symptoms can occur in the event of poisoning.

In addition to abdominal pain, the following warning signs often appear:

• Vomit
• confusion
• drowsiness
• fainting spells

If you suspect your child may have been poisoned, you must under no circumstances treat them yourself. In the event of severe poisoning, go to the doctor immediately, call 112 or the poison control center.