Stomach pains in children can be caused by various factors, including stomach bugs, food reactions, appendicitis, and poisoning. Mild cases usually go away within a day or two, but severe cases require immediate attention. Food allergies or sensitivities can also cause stomach pains.
While not uncommon, stomach pains in children can be difficult to diagnose correctly if the child cannot adequately describe the type of pain and its location. The cause of your child’s stomach pain can be as harmless as a small intestinal bug or result from the flu or other gastrointestinal illness. In severe cases, an inflamed appendix can cause stomach pains in children. The pain could also come from a reaction to a food. In rarer cases, keepers have to make sure that the poisoning has not led to an upset stomach.
Children all contract stomach bugs which are often the most likely culprits for abdominal pain. Mild cases should go away within a day or two provided the caretaker provides plenty of fluids. More prolonged illness, accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, chills and vomiting, could signal that your child has contracted the flu or gastroenteritis, which is inflammation of the lining of the stomach or intestinal tract.
Stomach pains in children appear in cases of appendicitis. These cases are much more serious than a mild flu and require immediate attention in case the appendix is at risk of rupture. Your child will likely complain of abdominal pain around the navel that radiates to the right side. This disorder is most common in children 11 years of age and older.
Reaction to foods can also lead to stomach aches in babies. If a food doesn’t agree with a child, they may experience indigestion that causes pain. Food can also lead to particularly severe cases of gas; in this case, the trapped air causes severe abdominal cramps. Newborns are especially susceptible to painful gas which leads to stomach aches.
Food allergies or sensitivities often cause stomach pains in children. If your child has similar symptoms every time he eats a certain food, allergies are likely to blame. In lactose-intolerant children, for example, the pain will likely start 30 minutes to two hours after eating dairy products. With food allergies, symptoms can occur anytime, from immediately to several hours after your child ingests the problem food. Mild allergies or sensitivities will only cause stomach cramps and pain, but more severe cases will lead to vomiting and other symptoms.
Parents also shouldn’t rule out poisoning as a cause of stomach pain in children. For example, a child may have gotten into household cleaners, toiletries, or prescription drugs. Ingestion of these items will almost certainly lead to severe abdominal pain in children.
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