What helps with stomach aches in children?
Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms in childhood. It can have a wide range of causes and should always be clarified by a doctor. Depending on the cause, different treatment options are also possible.
One of the most common causes of abdominal pain in children is insufficient digestion, which then manifests itself in the form of constipation. In recent years, too little daily drinking, too little exercise and too unhealthy food have led to an accumulation of abdominal pain due to constipation in children. Treatment should be given after a sufficient diagnosis has been made.
In the case of a constipating cause of the abdominal pain, the amount of drinking should be increased to up to 2 litres per day and sufficient exercise should be taken during the day. If constipation persists, treatment can be attempted with dried fruit and linseed. If this does not help either, Movicol, a powder used for intestinal regulation, should be taken.
Symptomatically and especially in the case of severe cramping pain, Buscopan or Paracetamol can be given to the child. Buscopan has an antispasmodic effect and works very quickly in children. It is also important to note that there is always a possible appendicitis, which is very common in children and causes right lower abdominal pain in particular.
In this case, in most cases, the only remaining option is surgical removal of the appendix. Strong abdominal pain in children can also be caused by too much air in the abdomen. This is also often the result of an unhealthy diet, too much sitting and too little fluid intake.
In addition to a change in lifestyle, Lefax or Sab Simplex can always lead to an improvement in abdominal pain in children. This medicine for flatulence binds the air in the abdomen and thus relieves the pressure on the intestines. Very often abdominal pain in children is psychosomatic in nature.
Similar to headaches, recurring abdominal pain can also be an expression of school anxiety, excessive performance demands or unresolved conflicts. School anxiety is one of the most common triggers of abdominal pain in children. Furthermore, so-called navel colic can lead to severe abdominal pain in children.
Navel colic is often associated with psychologically very tense life situations and extreme stress. Umbilical colic triggers severe cramp-like pain in the lower abdomen and intestine. The exact cause is not known, but is attributed to a vegetative reaction.
The diagnosis of an umbilical colic is an exclusionary diagnosis, i.e. it would only be made if other causes are not considered. Even an exclusively nocturnal occurrence of symptoms cannot be sufficiently explained by a navel colic.
