Clothing
In case of abdominal pain it is important not to wear too tight clothing. This additionally constricts the abdominal cavity and can considerably increase the symptoms. It is better to wear soft trousers with elastic and a wide top in which you do not feel constricted and the irritated abdomen has enough room to develop.
Drugs
Before taking over-the-counter medicines from the pharmacy for gastrointestinal complaints, the cause of the pain should be clarified by a doctor. Accordingly, a targeted drug therapy can be initiated if it is necessary or useful. Depending on the cause, drugs that reduce the production of gastric acid (proton pump inhibitors), laxatives that act against constipation or antispasmodic drugs are used.
Since frequently occurring abdominal pain in particular can usually be traced back to a specific cause, a holistic approach to therapy is important. Often, it is not enough to simply take medication to get the pain under control, but further measures such as a change in diet or similar are necessary. Abdominal pain is a relatively common symptom in children and the causes vary accordingly.
It is not uncommon for children to suffer from minor intestinal infections, which manifest themselves as abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea or vomiting. Often such an infection can be treated by balancing the fluid and electrolyte balance, by drinking a lot (preferably unsweetened tea) and eating salt sticks, and by slowly starting with a light diet. A lack of bowel movements for several days often causes stomach ache in children.
A laxative suppository can help here. In the long term, a diet rich in fibre with lots of fruit, vegetables and wholemeal products should be taken as a preventive measure. However, if the symptoms persist for several days and the pain worsens, a doctor should be consulted, as there is a risk of intestinal obstruction (ileus).
Eating too fat or too much food is also a common trigger of abdominal pain in childhood. Here, a stomach soothing tea (e.g. fennel tea) and a stomach massage can help. One of the most common causes of abdominal pain, especially in small children and infants, is flatulence.
Flatulence is usually harmless and is caused by gas formation in the stomach or intestines. Especially in babies this is caused by swallowing air while sucking. It often helps if the children can burp more often when they are breastfeeding.
A gentle, clockwise stomach massage can also help, as the air is transported along the digestive tract. Older children should also take enough time to eat and chew every bite well. Instead of a few large meals, the food should be divided into several small portions.
If a child has frequent problems with flatulence, flatulent foods (e.g. onions, pulses) in large quantities should be avoided. Carbonated drinks should also be avoided as far as possible. A hot-water bottle and a soothing tea (e.g. fennel or chamomile tea) or a short walk can help to calm the abdominal pain caused by flatulence.
Finally, abdominal pain in children can often have a psychological cause. Worries and anxieties in children often manifest themselves in the form of physical symptoms, especially stomach ache. For example, school and kindergarten children often complain of abdominal pain when they feel unwell at school or kindergarten.
It is important here to take the children’s complaints seriously, as they do not merely simulate but actually feel pain, even if it has no organic cause. However, the cause of the abdominal pain should be treated with a clarifying conversation and a lot of empathy by the caregiver and not with medication. It is important to remember that if certain warning signs are present, you should not rely on household remedies, but should consult a paediatrician (or a hospital at the weekend) immediately.
This includes when the child has visibly worsening/acutely onset stomach pains. A severely constricted or bulging abdomen and a tense, sensitive abdominal wall are also a sign of a serious illness. Furthermore, a doctor should be consulted if the child has bloody stools, fever or chills and is exhausted.
