How To Treat Stomach Pain In Toddlers

What Can Cause Stomach Pain In A Child

Tips to manage stomach ache in children – Dr. Shaheena Athif

The most common causes of stomach pain in children include:

Indigestion
Irritable bowel syndrome or functional abdominal pain
Appendicitis

Additional stomach pain symptoms can vary based on what’s causing your child’s stomach to hurt, but may include cramping, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea or vomiting. One of the most important symptoms to note is where your child is feeling pain in their stomach.

“One of the first questions we ask children is where their stomach hurts,” explains Dr. Mehta. “Location of the pain can help physicians determine what is causing the pain, in addition to other characteristics such as severity of pain, when it occurs, what makes it better or worse and accompanying symptoms.”

Does Your Child Need To See A Doctor About Stomach Pain

You should take your child to see your GP if your child:

complains of severe pain in the tummy or it wakes them from sleep
has tummy pain that doesnt go away, or that keeps coming and going
is unwell or has a fever in addition to the pain
complains that the pain gets worse when they move
has diarrhoea or vomiting that doesnt go away
is losing weight or has pain that affects their energy levels.

Take your child to a hospital emergency department straight away if your child has:

bloody or green vomit

When To Contact A Medical Professional

Seek medical help right away or call your local emergency number if your child:

Is a baby younger than 3 months and has diarrhea or vomiting
Is currently being treated for cancer
Is unable to pass stool, especially if the child is also vomiting
Is vomiting blood or has blood in the stool
Has sudden, sharp abdominal pain
Has a rigid, hard belly
Has had a recent injury to the abdomen
Is having trouble breathing

Abdominal pain that lasts 1 week or longer, even if it comes and goes.
Abdominal pain that does not improve in 24 hours. Call if it is getting more severe and frequent, or if your child is nauseous and vomiting with it.
A burning sensation during urination.
Diarrhea for more than 2 days.
Vomiting for more than 12 hours.
Fever over 100.4Â°F .
Poor appetite for more than 2 days.
Unexplained weight loss.

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Signs To Watch For And Ways To Treat The Symptoms

Children of different ages will show different signs that they are experiencing stomach pain. Infants and young toddlers tend to express their discomfort with crying, scrunching up their faces and curling up their bodies. Young children may also cry or curl up, but they’re usually quick to tell you something hurts. Older children and teenagers may be reluctant to say that they feel any pain, but if they give a small indication you can ask more questions to further understand their symptoms.

If your child can speak, be sure to ask how long theyve had the pain and where the pain is located. Stomach aches caused by gas or a stomach virus often go away within 24 hours. Abdominal pain that lasts longer than 24 hours, however, warrants a trip to the doctor.

You can also note whether your child is vomiting or has diarrhea. Either of these symptoms won’t warrant a doctor’s visit immediately, but vomiting that lasts longer than 24 hours or diarrhea that lasts longer than 72 hours indicates there might be a more serious problem. If your child’s vomit or stool has blood in it after any length of time, you should go to the doctor for medical care.

Stomach Pain On The Left Side Of The Abdomen

If your child is complaining about pain on the left side of their stomach, it could be caused by something as simple as constipation to a more severe condition like pancreatitis. Dr. Mehta reminds parents not to panic just because their child is experiencing pain.

“Most of the time, stomach pain on the left side is caused by something mild, like constipation. Rarely, it can be a sign of something more serious,” she says. “Your child’s pediatrician can work with you to better understand the pain and symptoms your child experiences to ensure they receive an accurate diagnosis and more importantly, find relief.”

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Ingestion Of A Foreign Body

In most cases, when a child swallows an object, it will make its way through the gastrointestinal tract and pass out of the body unassisted. However, swallowing small items, such as button batteries or magnets, can cause life-threatening complications, and a child should go to the hospital immediately.

What Are The Symptoms And Signs Of Stomach Pain In Children

A parent or caregiver usually can notice pain in a child’s abdomen. Infants and very young toddlers may cry, express pain facially, and curl up. Young children are usually quick to tell you what is wrong. Some teenagers may be reluctant to report pain, and you must try to get a clear explanation of what they are feeling. Ask about these conditions:

Duration of the pain: Most simple causes of abdominal pain do not last long. Most of us have experienced gas pains or the stomach/gut flu, and recall that the pain was usually gone within 24 hours. Any abdominal pain that continues longer than 24 hours should be evaluated by a physician.

Location of the pain: Most simple pains are located in the center of the abdomen. The child will rub around his or her belly button. Pain felt in other areas is more concerning. This is especially true of pain located low and down on the right side of the abdomen. Pain in that area should be considered as appendicitis until proven otherwise.

Appearance of the child: As a general rule, if the child looks very ill in addition to being in pain, medical help should be sought. Often, the caregiver “just knows” the child is very sick. When abdominal pain occurs, key things to look for include pale appearance, sweating, sleepiness or listlessness. It is most concerning when a child cannot be distracted from the pain with play, or refuses to drink or eat for several hours.

How Can I Help My Child Explain Their Pain Symptoms

Young children and babies may not be able to tell an adult where they feel the pain, or what it feels like. When trying to work out your childs symptoms, it can help to ask simple questions, such as:

Can you point to where it hurts?
Did you wake up with the pain?
When did you go to the toilet last?

Try not to ask leading questions or transmit your anxiety to them.

What Is The Stomach Flu

8 Home Remedies for Stomach Pain in Toddlers

The stomach flu isnt actually the flu and it isnt caused by the same influenza viruses that normally cause the flu. The real flu attacks your breathing system nose, throat, and lungs. The stomach flu goes straight and mercilessly for the intestines.

The stomach flu is usually caused by one of three viruses:

21 million people the stomach flu every year. It also leads to about a million visits to the pediatrician every year in the United States.

These viruses act fast your child may get sick only a day or two after catching one. The stomach flu is also very contagious. If one child has it, chances are you and/or other children in your house will be sharing it within the week.

Other kinds of gastrointestinal infections are caused by bacteria. This includes food poisoning, which has slightly different symptoms than the stomach flu.

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How Do I Take Care Of A Child With Abdominal Pain

If you are taking care of a child with a sore tummy or abdominal pain:

make sure that they rest
it’s very important that they drink enough clear fluids encourage them to take small sips often
if they dont want to eat, dont push them
if they are hungry, give them bland food, such as crackers, bananas, or toast
if simple pain relief is needed, paracetamol is usually the recommended pain relief medicine
sitting on the toilet may help them do a poo, which may improve the pain
distract them from the pain by reading a book, rubbing their tummy or with toys or quiet games

If a baby has abdominal pain, follow advice for pain management in babies. Burping the baby may help if the baby has wind.

If a baby is sick with gastroenteritis:

breast fed babies should continue to be breastfed, but may need feeding more often
oral rehydration solutions may be needed, as well as breast milk
bottle fed babies may need their formula and oral rehydration solution

Home Care For Toddlers With Gas

The following tips may provide some relief for toddlers with gas problems .

Bicycle motion: Lay your toddler on their back. Move their legs gently in a bicycle or pedaling motion. This motion may be helpful in releasing the gas.

Warm bath: Giving your toddler a warm bath may reduce the gas at night.

Check for bubbles: Bubbles in the milk or formula milk may be one of the underlying factors causing gas in toddlers. While feeding the formula milk to your toddler, make sure there are no bubbles in the milk. Also, adjust the nipple in such a way that the milk flow is neither too fast nor too slow.

Tummy massage: Massaging your toddlerâs tummy with some oil may also help release the gas, providing some comfort. However, do not exert too much pressure on the tummy while massaging.

Warm compression: The application of warm compression on your toddlerâs abdomen may also help reduce the gas.

Avoid fruit juice and carbonated drinks: Give your toddler an assortment of fresh fruits instead of letting them have fruit juices and aerated beverages.

Feeding position: Place the toddlerâs head higher than the tummy while feeding from the breast or the bottle. You can try other positions too, and check what works the best in reducing gassiness in the toddler.

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When To See A Professional

So when should you call your child’s health care provider? Call immediately if the pain is severe and has lasted more than an hour or its constant and has lasted more than two hours. Or if you are worried about appendicitis or if the pain actually extends into the scrotum or testicles of boys. You may be advised to go to the children’s emergency room for further testing that may not be able to be done in your doctor’s office to evaluate for those serious causes that may need a surgeon.

So abdominal pain is something that again, we see very often and there are so many things that could cause it. By working with your child’s doctor, you can figure out what the cause of the pain is and a plan to help your child.

When To Contact Your Childs Healthcare Provider

Causes and Home Remedies for Stomach Ache in Children

Along with the possible causes of stomach pain in kids listed above, we also offered some guidance on when to contact your childâs healthcare provider. However, there are many additional reasons children experience abdominal pain, and youâll need to watch for various signs and symptoms, some requiring more urgent action than others. Contact your healthcare provider ASAP or take your toddler to the emergency room if they have stomach pain and

vomit but donât have bowel movements
have blood or pus in the stool or vomit
have dark, tar-like stool or green or yellow vomit
experience sharp abdominal pain
have a rigid, hard, or swollen belly
have trouble breathing
had a recent injury
are being treated for a serious medical condition .

Other signs might require a regular consultation with your healthcare provider . They include

constant stomach pain lingering for more than 24 hours especially if the pain increases
stomach pain that comes and goes and lasts more than one week
diarrhea lasting more than two days
pain during urination
fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
loss of appetite or weight loss.

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Stomach Pain In The Lower Right Part Of The Abdomen

Appendicitis is a serious medical emergency that can cause sudden, severe pain in the lower right part of your child’s stomach. If your child complains of stomach pain that moves to the lower right side of the belly, watch for other symptoms of appendicitis including:

Fever
Constipation
Diarrhea

You should contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if you suspect your child has appendicitis. Early diagnosis decreases risk of a ruptured appendix or serious complications.

What Are The Symptoms Of Stomach Pain In Children

Its easy to notice stomach pain in children. Children experiencing stomach pain will often cry, express the pain facially, or curl up. Young children will also quickly inform you when they are experiencing any type of pain. When your child tells you that they are experiencing pain, you should ask some follow-up questions and monitor them to try and determine the cause of the pain.

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What Is Abdominal Pain In Children

Abdominal pain is pain felt anywhere in the area between the bottom of the ribs and the pelvis. It is very common in babies, infants and children under 12 years.

There are many different causes of abdominal pain in children, including trapped wind, constipation, gastroenteritis and appendicitis.

Most episodes in children are not serious and will get better without treatment in hours or days. But, if the pain is severe, does not go away, or your child seems generally unwell, take them to the doctor or hospital emergency department.

This page is about abdominal pain in children under the age of 12. Go here for information on abdominal pain in older children and adults.

Know When To Seek Help

Stomach Pain in Kids – Causes and Remedies

Natural remedies for stomach aches can work wonders, but it’s necessary to know when to call the doctor. Deb Lonzer, M.D., chair of the department of regional pediatrics for the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, says that pain around the belly button is often the least concern. “Loss of appetite is more serious and would concern me after a few days,” she adds. “Constipation should be addressed within a week if a change in diet is not helping.” As a general rule, if your child is vomiting, has a fever, has blood in their stool, is not thriving, or looks worn-out all the time, it’s best to take them to the pediatrician.

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How To Prevent Stomach Ache In Toddlers

If your child constantly complains of stomach pain, you should not ignore it. There must be something wrong in his diet and you need to remedy it. Here are some tips that you can follow to prevent this problem.

If your child has a stomach ache because of constipation, include fibrous foods in his diet.

Do not overfeed your child. Instead of giving him three big meals, let him have small frequent meals.

Encourage the habit of washing hands before eating right from an early age in your toddler as it will prevent your child from contracting bacterial infections.

Dont make him eat before bedtime as it could lead to indigestion.

Stomach ache is a common problem in kids. If your tot has a stomach ache, make him lie down on the bed in a comfortable position. Lie down next to him and read out his favourite stories to divert his attention. You can also try the remedies mentioned above to provide him relief from stomach pain. However, if these remedies fail to work and your child is unable to move or the pain is accompanied by a fever, take him to a doctor and seek medical attention at earliest.

How To Prevent Stomach Pain In Children

You may take some of the following measures to help your child from getting tummy aches that may result from indigestion, infection or constipation:

Include more fibrous foods in your childs diet to keep constipation and indigestion at bay.

Refrain from feeding your child too close to his bedtime, as it may cause indigestion.

Do not let your child overeat at one meal. Serve smaller, frequent meals.

Encourage your child to wash his hands well before and after every meal, to keep him safe from bacterial and viral infections.

Monitor the fluid intake of your child, as lack of fluids can cause constipation.

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Four Common Causes For Your Childs Tummy Ache

Has your child ever come to you and said, Mom/Dad, my tummy hurts?

You may wonder, Did they eat something that didnt agree with them? Have they pooped today? Figuring out whats going on inside their belly can sometimes feel like an episode of The Good Doctor.

While you may have a cast-iron stomach, your little one might not. Most children will complain of a stomachache at one time or anotherand not all will be digestive related. So, how do you know whether its something that will just pass or will require medical attention?

Although there are serious disorders that can cause abdominal pain, usually your childs stomach pain is something less worrisome. We dive into four common reasons for your childs tummy ache and ways you can put their stomach and mind at ease.

How To Stop The Vomiting

Gas Pain in Toddlers: Causes, Symptoms and Home Remedies

Theres no single surefire way to halt puking in its tracks. The sad-but-true reality: The best course of action is usually to simply let an illness run its course.

In fact, though it might be tempting to reach for medication for a vomiting child, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using any over-the-counter or prescription anti-vomiting drugs in kids .

Using antibiotics to treat throwing up is especially discouraged, as many stomach illnesses are caused by viruses, not bacteria.

Typically, the more important goal is to make sure your child stays hydrated throughout their bout of sickness. As they lose fluids through throwing up, giving them plenty to drink is your best bet.

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