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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is a very common symptom in young children, and it is usually short-lived. It can occur for a wide range of reasons, which may or may not affect the digestive tract. Children tend not to suffer from indigestion, but anxiety and even Migraine can cause stomachache. However, there are a few serious conditions that require immediate medical attention, and you should be alert for other symptoms that might signal such a situation. if you have any doubts, you should always consult a doctor immediately.

Children often complain of stomachache, but the pain will usually disappear spontaneously. Even children admitted to hospital with stomach pain are often sent home with no definite diagnosis. Children often experience physical symptoms as a result of unhappiness or anxiety. For example, a child who complains of recurring stomach pain may have problems at school or at home.

Causes of abdominal plain

In children, abdominal pain is often not connected faith the digestive system and may have causes such as a twisted testis or migraine, which in young children tends to affect the stomach rather dean the head. Urinary tract infections, which are particularly common in girls, can cause abdominal pain. Even a general infection, such as a cold or flu, might give a child a stomachache - this is due to the glands swelling in their abdominal cavity as well as the head and neck area.

The type of pain and its location often give valuable clues to what might be causing it, but it is often difficult for a child to describe the pain accurately or to tell you exactly where it is situated. Accompanying symptoms, such as fever, diarrhoea or vomiting, can help to narrow down the possible causes but you should never hesitate to contact your doctor if you are at all concerned.

Painful constipation

If you have never seen the distress that constipation - passing infrequent hard stools - causes in a baby, this may seem an odd condition to discuss in a first-aid books However, it is one of the commonest causes of abdominal pain in children, and it is very useful to be aware of this fact.

A baby who screams and strains at the same time, while drawling up their Knees, may be constipated. They may pass very hard, pellet-like stools or not have any bowel movements for a few days. It often happens briefly when bottle-fed babies change from the "first milks" to the more filling "second milks". A baby who has had bowel difficulties from birth may have a problem with the nerves that supply the gut - this is known as Hirschsprung's disease. It is a serious condition that always requires surgical treatment.

Constipation may begin to be a problem during potty training. Parents should be aware that this can impede the learning process, as it is obviously unpleasant for the child - a situation to look out for and handle carefully. A child might also pass one large, hard motion that tears their anus. If they then start holding on to their stools to avoid pain, this could set up a vicious cycle which may eventually lead to the child being unable to control their bowel motions and soiling themselves. Plenty of fluids and gentle laxatives are needed to stop this scenario from developing - the earlier the better.

Appendicitis

The appendix is a tiny tube of gut attached to the intestine that may become blocked and inflamed. Children of all ages can develop appendicitis. Pain often starts around the navel, and after a few hours shifts to the lower right-hand side of the abdomen, where the appendix is sited. They may vomit, lack appetite, or have a fever and bad breath. There is a danger of perforation, so if you think appendicitis is a possibility you should seek a doctor's advice or go to hospital without delay.

Intussusception

A condition that occurs between the ages of 3 months and 2 years, innissusception must be treated as an emergency. The cause is unknown, but the result is that a section of intestine folds into itself, rather like the sleeve of a jersey. The child will be in severe pain and highly distressed. Vomiting may occur and a redjelly-like stool may also be passed. If any of these symptoms occur, you must call an ambulance straight away.

First aid for a child with abdominal pain

try to find out exactly where the pain is and when it occurs. Is the pain there all of the time or does it relate to opening the bowels or urinating?
Give your child paracetamol syrup (never aspirin), at the correct dosage for their age, to ease the pain. A wrapped hot-water bottle placed on their stomach can be extremely comforting. If the child is vomiting or is suffering from diaehoea, then they should avoid solid foods for 12-24 hours. Give them little Amounts of fluid often.