Stomach Pains in Children | Tips to Deal with Abdominal Pains in Children

Dealing with stomach pains in children can be one tough thing as children are not able to clearly explain the pain. Most kids will cry when they have a minor abdominal pain and some will even cry when they are simply full.

At other times the pains could be signs of greater things that are hidden and could bring harm to your child. With these types of challenges parents or guardians find it difficult to distinguish the pains felt by the child.

These tips will help you get to identify the pains that require your urgent attention or get to know when you should just relax and let it heal.

How to Deal with Stomach Pains in Children| Abdominal Pains in Children

Food Poisoning: this could be just about any type of infection that could result from the food, it could have been not well cooked or the child maybe having an allergic reaction. The good thing here is that they mostly go away within 24hrs and don’t necessarily cause you trouble. If symptoms persist beyond the 24 hrs then seek your doctor’s opinion.

Stomach Infections: this could be either viral or bacterial infections; they could result from simple gut flu or stomach flu and could also be as caused by bacterial infections. The bacterial types require some sort of antibacterial medications but the viral mostly disappears.

Stomach Pains in Children

Poisoning: children due to their playfulness will many a time encounter objects that they feel need to be in their mouths. As parents we need to understand them especially if they are younger than 6yrs. The challenge however comes as they swallow harmful objects and thereby prompting immediate attention.

Children could swallow many things including iron objects and an overdose of a drug either prescribed to them or not if improperly kept or comes within their reach. In such a case you need to find out the actual thing they swallowed to be able to respond. If the stomach pain becomes severe then it is always wise to consult a pediatrician.

Symptoms to look out for in case of stomach pains in children| Abdominal Pains 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 will usually be 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: An important thing to remember is that most simple causes of abdominal pain do not last very long. Most of us have experienced gas pains or the stomach/gut flu, and remember 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 is considered to be 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. Key things to look for when abdominal pain occurs include pale appearance, sweating, or a child who is sleepy or listless. It is most concerning when a child cannot be distracted from the pain with play, or refuses to drink or eat for several hours.

Vomiting: Children vomit quite frequently with abdominal pain, but vomiting does not always indicate a serious problem. However, as with the duration of the pain, most simple causes of vomiting go away very quickly. The rule again is that vomiting for longer than 24 hours is a legitimate reason to call the physician.

Nature of the vomiting: In infants and very young children, vomiting that is green or yellow is a reason to call the doctor. At any age, vomiting that appears to contain blood or darker material is a reason to seek emergency care.

Diarrhea: This is also very common with abdominal pain and usually indicates that a virus is the cause. This can continue for several days but usually only lasts less than 72 hours (three days). Any blood in the stool is a reason to seek medical care.

Fever: The presence of fever does not always indicate a serious problem. Indeed, a normal temperature can be seen with the more serious causes of abdominal pain.

Groin pain: One serious problem that a boy may describe as abdominal pain actually comes from somewhere else. It is testicular torsion, a condition in which a testicle twists on itself and cuts off its own blood supply. The child may be embarrassed to mention the location, so you should ask if there is any pain “down there.” A testicular problem is usually easy to fix if treated early enough. So, if a child complains of pain in the groin area or testicles, seek medical emergency care.

Urinary problems: Abdominal pain associated with any trouble urinating, such as painful or frequent urination, could indicate an infection and is a reason to seek medical care.

Rash: Certain serious causes of abdominal pain also occur with a new rash. The combination of skin rash with abdominal pain is a reason to contact your doctor. information from here

Treating Stomach pains in children| Abdominal Pains in Children

If the case is a case of Diarrhea then you could probably use these video tips to ensure you deal with the pain successfully. The video is just a general guide and not an express treatment to all abdominal or stomach pains in children.

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