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Pain in or around the belly or tummy, also known as abdominal pain, is extremely common in children and is frequently referred to as a stomach ache. However, besides the stomach the abdomen contains several other organs. The abdominal area roughly includes everything between the child’s lower chest to the hip-bone (pelvic area) or groin. Abdominal pain can be generalized, localized, colicky, or like cramps.
Therefore, the causes of abdominal pain in children can be very diverse ranging from mild and self-limiting to life threatening with no difference in the child’s complaint about the pain. Parents need to evaluate the stomach ache, which can sometimes be challenging even for a physician. Abdominal pain can either be acute (lasting for short duration) or chronic (persistent, lasting over longer periods of time). Fortunately, most of the time, abdominal aches are mild and carry no serious underlying issue but sometimes there can be a serious medical concern.
Abdominal pain in infants
Infants are very young children less than one year of age, and it can be quite hard to know whether such babies are in pain as they cannot talk and describe what they feel. There are certain signs that a baby may show when he or she is in pain. The baby might be restless, move around a lot, cry with a higher pitch, frown or squeeze her eyes, pull her knees up to her chest, get more upset when touched, shudder (mild shaking), and sleep less than usual. Also, the baby may become restless shortly after feeding, or, due to the stomach ache, a baby may become fussier and eat poorly.
A stomach ache can be serious if the baby’s condition does not get better after a few hours. The severity of the condition can also be partly judged by the multiplicity of the symptoms like abdominal pain accompanied by fever, vomiting or diarrhea and medical consultation must be arranged in such a case. Promptly consult medical help if the baby’s symptoms are increasing in intensity and frequency.
Abdominal pain in toddlers or preschoolers
Toddlers or preschoolers between the ages of 1 and 4 do not have a very good idea of the nature of their problem and they may show vague symptoms reflecting their stomach ache. It may be a sign that a child has an abdominal pain if he holds his arms, legs, or body stiffly, cries excessively, acts restless, resists touching his abdomen, kicks when somebody comes near, loses control of bowel and bladder after he has been toilet-trained, refrains from playing, and may touch, tug, rub, or massage his tummy.
Abdominal pain in older children
This age group includes older children (less than 10 years of age) who can talk and describe their stomach ache, so parents can ask them about the nature and site of their abdominal pain.
Causes of stomach ache in children
Abdominal aches in children may arise from the settings that can either be life threatening or not. Overeating, constipation, indigestion, gas pain, food allergy, reflux, infections, colic, stomach flu, diarrhea etc. are included among the milder causes of abdominal pain among children. However, tummy aches can also result from severe conditions such as appendicitis, intestinal blockage, ulcers, hernia and tumors etc. Stomach ache can also be sometimes attributed as being idiopathic (of no known cause). Stress or worry can also lead to abdominal aches or cramps.
Different kinds of abdominal aches
Indigestion is a feeling of fullness or discomfort during or after a meal while heartburn can be described as a burning sensation felt in the chest. However, these are mature terms and are seldom described by a child. Indigestion and heartburn are two different conditions and one might experience the both at the same time. Abdominal cramp is a mild form of tummy ache that is short lived and is most probably caused by a minor upset or bug. A child may describe vague symptoms about her stomach ache and may even misinterpret cramp due to natural defecation reflex as being her tummy ache. Depending on individual behavioral patterns, every child may complain differently about her problem.
Disclaimer: Medical content and advice published on this site is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for a consultation with a licensed physician or the reader’s discretion. Although FamiLife.in verifies all information with reputable sources, the contributors and publishers accept no responsibility for any actions taken by readers based on the information provided here. FamiLife.in recommends that you always consult a licensed medical professional in health matters.
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