Tummy Troubles

Handling Little One's Bellyaches

By Dr. Aneema Van Groenou

The most common causes of abdominal pain in a child are the least likely to last or cause any real harm. Your child may develop belly pain after eating too fast, eating too much or developing gas. This pain will go away after some digestion and a little rest.

Constipation is also a frequent cause of stomachaches. Constipation does not refer to just how often your child has a bowel movement, but what its consistency is. So even if your child is stooling twice a day with hard, dry round balls, she is constipated. On the other hand, if she goes only every other day, but has soft, long stools, she is not constipated.

Keep in mind that if your child is potty trained, you may not have any idea how often she has a bowel movement (or what it looks like!). But this is important information, especially if your child is complaining of stomachaches. Don't rely on your child to keep track of when she goes – ask her often and write it down. This is excellent information to share with the pediatrician.

Infections caused by viruses and bacteria also can cause belly pain. A stomach flu (also called gastroenteritis) or food poisoning (eating spoiled food) also may cause vomiting or diarrhea. You may be surprised to learn that other infections, like ear infections or even throat infections (like strep throat), also can cause belly pain in kids. A viral infection will get better within a few days. A bacterial infection may need antibiotics to be treated.

Diet changes, lie having a lot of juice, milk or fruit, also can result in a stomachache and diarrhea. This should resolve itself within a day. Food allergies can also cause problems. If stomachaches are frequent, keep track of what your child ate before developing the pain or diarrhea. In older children, milk products like ice cream, cocoa and cheese may cause belly pain and bloating. Starting a new medication also can bring on tummy troubles.

Injury to the abdomen is another pain generator. Ask your child if he fell or got hurt in the belly – often children don't tell you when they fall, but seek help when the injury starts to bother them. Heavy lifting and exercise (like on a jungle gym) may also strain the belly muscles and cause pain down the road.

Poisoning is a serious cause of belly problems and can be hard to detect if your toddler was sucking on a bar of soap out of your sight, or your youngster swallowed a tube of tasty toothpaste. Prevention is important, and childproofing cabinets with medications and cleaners is essential.

Medical and surgical issues also can come up unexpectedly, such as appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix, a small part of the bowel) or belly pain caused by diabetes or a spider bite.

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