A child’s abdomen is sensitive, so abdominal pain is very common in infants and children. Although abdominal pain does not always have a serious cause right away, pain in the abdomen can also be a signal of psychological stress or an acute illness.
What characterizes abdominal pain in children?
There are many causes of abdominal pain in children. Babies quickly get a distended belly if they swallow a lot of air while sucking. Depending on the cause, abdominal pain in children manifests itself in different abdominal regions and intensity. These are triggered, for example, by digestive problems, constipation or an intestinal infection. If the symptoms are harmless, parents can relieve their child’s pain with gentle home remedies. If in doubt, a doctor should always be consulted, for example if the pain lasts longer than 24 hours. If the little ones simply “feel” uncomfortable, they can also be soothed by a massage or lots of affection. A serious condition, on the other hand, is when the pain is sudden and severe. Some children react to abdominal pain with apathetic behavior or listlessness. Others refuse food, cry or lie in bed with their legs drawn up. If fever, vomiting or diarrhea also occurs, or the abdominal lid feels hard, then going to the doctor is essential. Such symptoms are clear signs of a disease that requires urgent medical attention.
Causes
There are many causes of abdominal pain in children. Babies quickly get a bloated belly if they swallow a lot of air while sucking. And if potty training doesn’t go well, constipation can also cause pain and discomfort. Constipation is when the child has to go to the toilet only once a week and has very firm stools. Food intolerance could be another reason for abdominal pain. Since children still have a sensitive stomach, they react quickly to very fatty and sweet foods as well as sumptuous meals. In schoolchildren, however, abdominal pain can also be of a psychological nature, for example if they are unable to cope with school pressure or have fears and worries. Very severe pain indicates an acute illness such as appendicitis, infection of the urinary tract or inflammation of the kidney pelvis. It is also not uncommon for colic, poisoning or worms to be reasons for abdominal pain in children.
Diseases with this symptom
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Intestinal polyps
- Inguinal hernia
- Allergy
- Stomach ulcer
- Intestinal obstruction (ileus)
- Appendicitis
- Cystitis
- Renal pelvic inflammation
- Poisoning
- Food intolerance
- Gastric rupture
- Gastrointestinal flu
- Worms in the stool in children
- Biliary colic
Diagnosis and course of the disease
If the child has abdominal pain, the first thing parents should do is to locate and analyze the pain. This is much easier if the child is already talking. Also, only school-age children can describe whether the pain feels more dull or sharp. To help, parents can consult the following guiding principle: The farther the pain is from the belly button, the more likely it has a physical cause. The situation is different with pain that is located around the navel. In that case, it may be psychological, or it may be a mild discomfort such as a bloated belly or constipation. Also, parents can ask the child to hop on both legs. If this movement causes pain in the abdomen, there is irritation of the peritoneum. This is the case, for example, with advanced appendicitis. Parents often see it on their child’s face when it is in severe pain. Then, for example, the face becomes distorted or pale. And if diarrhea, vomiting, bloody stool or even fever is also added, the child must immediately seek medical treatment.
Complications
Abdominal pain in children is usually harmless, but it can also be an alarm signal from the body. An acute abdomen, for example, is manifested by sudden abdominal pain and can lead to intestinal obstruction, gastric perforation or a heart attack.If reflux disease is present, abdominal pain may be the first sign of Barrett’s ulcer, an inflammatory disease of the esophagus, and may increase the risk of esophageal cancer and other secondary diseases as it progresses. Serious conditions such as renal pelvic inflammation, urinary tract infection and even pneumonia can also manifest themselves through pain in the abdomen and intestines. If the complaints are then not treated early, it is highly likely that these diseases will break out, leading to further complications. Abdominal pain triggered by inflammation of the appendix leads in the course of the disease to complications such as inflammation of the abdominal cavity and even rupture of the appendix. Persistent abdominal pain in children usually occurs as a result of typical infectious diseases such as measles, mumps or scarlet fever. A possible complication is accordingly the settlement of the pathogens elsewhere, which in the further course can lead to otitis media, sinusitis and other diseases. Likewise, the blood can be poisoned by the bacteria, as is the case, for example, with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Normally, however, abdominal pain in children does not result in serious complications.
When should you go to the doctor?
When abdominal pain develops in children, parents are often helpless. They can wait for a while, but if in doubt, a doctor should be consulted. Pediatricians are responsible for children. If necessary, the child’s own family doctor can also be consulted. In this case, parents should go to the doctor or emergency service at any time of the day or night if the child’s complaints do not stop. There are so many causes of infantile abdominal pain that only a specialist can determine them. They range from too much air in the stomach to growing pains and psychological stress. It is certainly helpful if information can be given about the last meal and the other daily routine. If the children are still small, they cannot tell anything about their pain. Even slightly older children often find this difficult. If the little belly is swollen, an immediate visit to the doctor is necessary. The specialist will listen to the child, palpate the abdomen, do blood work if necessary, or prescribe certain food and medication. If in doubt, an internist will be consulted and/or the child will be x-rayed.
Treatment and therapy
For abdominal pain without a serious cause, parents can soothe their child with gentle massage. If the child can be calmed by intensive cuddling and stroking, a dangerous illness can be ruled out. Often it also helps if the child is put to bed and covered. A pillow under the knee additionally relieves the stomach. In the case of constipation, plenty of exercise and sufficient fluids are also said to help well. For some forms of abdominal pain, there are time-honored home remedies such as a hot water bottle or a cherry pit pillow. Chamomile or fennel tea have a soothing effect on flatulence. Caraway and anise tea relieve the discomfort of indigestion. If the child cannot eat well because of digestive problems, rusks and broth will help with an upset stomach. Parents can also give the child gentle homeopathic remedies if the cause of the pain is known. However, not every home remedy works equally well for all children. A lot of patience is needed from parents here. If the pain is severe and the cause is not yet known, the child should not eat or drink anything. Painkillers are also taboo for children. On the one hand, these can endanger the child’s health, on the other hand, such pain relief could also complicate the diagnosis by the doctor. After the diagnosis, the pediatrician administers the necessary medication to the child. In the case of an infection, an antibiotic would be considered.
Outlook and prognosis
Abdominal pain in children often has no serious cause and, although unpleasant, passes. The metabolism develops over many years and does not yet tolerate some things as that of an adult. The result can be temporary abdominal pain in the child. Since every child’s mental development is different, stress, excitement, anticipation or other strong (positive or negative) feelings can also have a psychosomatic effect and end in abdominal pain.As long as the abdominal pain is not clustered or increasing in frequency, associated with severe pain or other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness or fever, it will pass on its own. However, caution is advised when abdominal pain in children occurs along with these symptoms. First, there is a risk of dehydration. Furthermore, the cause should be clarified, because it can be something harmless or something dangerous like poisoning or a gastrointestinal infection. Children quickly swallow something they should not have eaten, but this can be treated if what they found is discovered in time. If abdominal pain occurs without other symptoms, but more frequently than in other children of the same age, they should also this case be examined by a doctor, because it can not be assumed that the frequency of these abdominal pain in the child regulates itself.
Prevention
Some types of abdominal pain recur in children, such as when they have a tendency to bloating or constipation. Parents can prevent such discomfort by letting their baby burp more often or massaging their tummy regularly. Toddlers should learn to take their time eating and chew each bite thoroughly. And if they get plenty of fresh air and drink enough during the day, children are less likely to complain of tummy aches. In addition, a balanced diet rich in fiber prevents constipation as well as other digestive disorders.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Abdominal pain in children is usually unproblematic and passes quickly. For self-help, various effective and proven home remedies can be used. Often, a hot water bottle or a fennel tea already helps to relieve the discomfort. Teas with anise and caraway also calm an irritated stomach and can be taken in combination with rusks and similar light meals. An abdominal massage or a walk in the fresh air are also effective. Simple gymnastic exercises such as the well-known “cycling” relieve mild constipation and effectively alleviate abdominal pain. Besides, distraction by cuddling, playing or being read stories helps to relieve the pain and recover quickly. In addition, a healthy diet rich in fiber with non-carbonated drinks and no flatulent foods such as cabbage or legumes helps. Abdominal pain in infants can often be helped by regular burping while breastfeeding. A circular massage around the navel, with caraway oil or similar, can also reduce the infant’s discomfort. If these measures do not bring relief, further treatment steps should be discussed with a doctor. Chronic or particularly severe abdominal pain in children should always be clarified by a family doctor or pediatrician.
