Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain is one of the more common GI problems and occurs more frequently in children under the age of 11. Abdominal pain could be described by your child as a bad tummy ache with generalized pain/pressure near the belly button. This occurs as children have a change in diet, and the pain should go away within 3 hours. Abdominal pain is common; however it is very important to listen to your child to find out how severe the pain is. In some instances the abdominal pain can be more than dietary fluctuations, and your pediatrician will recommend you see a pediatric gastroenterologist.
What causes my child's chronic abdominal pain?
While abdominal pain in general is not usually problematic having chronic abdominal pain could be a sign of a greater problem such as:
- Infections: Infections such as a virus or bacteria can cause abdominal pain. Viruses such as the stomach flu can cause abdominal pain and usually subside on their own while bacterial infections require a course of antibiotics.
- Food: Your child might be allergic to certain foods or sugars. This allergic reaction could cause gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort. Breath tests are done to rule out any allergic reaction or intolerance. Food poisoning could also be the cause of abdominal pain and is due to improperly cooked food or salmonellae organisms. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides more information on how to protect and treat your child with specific food pathogens.
- Poison: Children can be curious and have a habit of putting things in their mouth. It is very important to protect your child from poison such as household chemicals. Poisons can cause abdominal pain, neurological problems and could even be fatal. To find out more about protecting your child from poison contact The Illinois Poison Control Center.
- Appendicitis: In some instances the abdominal pain could be something more severe such as appendicitis. Usually harder to diagnose in children, symptoms could be fever, loss of appetite, and generalized abdominal pain that spreads to the right side of the abdomen. Find more information here about appendicitis.
For more information on abdominal pain or to make an appointment with one of our pediatric gastroenterologists, please call 773.880.4354.