Tummy Troubles

Handling Little One's Bellyaches

By Dr. Aneema Van Groenou

Asking the right questions will help you get to the bottom of what is going on and whether you should be worried. Plus, it will help you describe the problem accurately and completely to the doctor. Here are a few important questions you can ask yourself and your child:

• When did the pain start? How long has it lasted? (Pain that has no other symptoms and goes away within an hour or two is probably not serious.)
• How often does your child have belly pain?
• What does the pain feel like? Is it crampy, dull or sharp? Is it severe?
• Where is the pain located? All over the belly or in just one area?
• Has your child had any injuries to the belly?
• What other symptoms does your child have? Vomiting? Not eating well? Diarrhea? Constipation? Fussiness? Fever? Not sleeping well? Lack of energy?
• Has your child been drinking well or does she seem dehydrated (not peeing often, crying without tears)?
• What does your child's stool look like? Is it watery or runny? Or hard and dry? Does it have blood in it?

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