Stomach Problems in Kids

During childhood, most kids will develop some type of stomach problem. All parents are familiar with a child's complaint of a tummy ache or an upset stomach. It often causes parents to worry and assume the worse. In general, these gastrointestinal complaints may just be simple cases of indigestion, heartburn or constipation. However, the challenge for most parents is to recognize the symptoms of the various stomach problems that can affect kids.

Gastroenteritis/Diarrhea

• Gastroenteritis, also called the stomach flu, is a stomach infection that is common in kids. Caused by a viral or bacterial infection of the intestinal tract, the stomach flu can cause diarrhea and sometimes vomiting in babies and children. Gastroenteritis can be a serious condition in children when it causes dehydration. It can deplete the body of fluids and minerals.

  Viral or bacterial infections are not the only cause of diarrhea in children. Other factors that can cause diarrhea include food poisoning, irritable bowel syndrome, parasites and malabsorption problems due to certain medical ailments (see the Resource section).

  When children have a serious case of diarrhea or vomiting, parents should give them rehydration solutions to avoid dehydration. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, parents should see a doctor if a child has symptoms that include diarrhea that persists for longer than three days, high fever and blood in the stool (see the Resource section).

Constipation

• Constipation is defined as infrequent bowel movements (three or less a week) accompanied by straining or the passing of hard stool. In children, constipation is likely to occur when they do not drink enough fluids or do not consume enough fiber. When constipation is severe, a child may need an enema.

  In babies, constipation may develop when breast milk or formula is replaced by cow's milk. Likewise, switching a child from baby food to solid food may also cause this condition. To treat constipation problems in children, doctors recommend diet changes that include plenty of liquids, fruits, vegetables and foods with fiber.

GERD

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a condition where food and acid move back up from the stomach into the esophagus. The burping up or spitting up that most infants do after feeding is normal and they usually outgrow this tendency. However, when this condition persists, GERD symptoms can cause complications such as feeding problems in babies. In infants aged 1 year and older, symptoms of GERD include vomiting, weight loss and excessive spitting up. In older children and teens, the main symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease is heartburn. It can often lead to complications like esophagitis and breathing problems.

Appendicitis

• Appendicitis is the inflammation and infection of the appendix. The appendix is a small organ that is connected to the large intestine. Some signs of an infected appendix are pain that starts near the belly button and moves to the right side of the stomach, nausea, low-grade fever and swelling of the abdomen.

  In general, appendicitis is more common in school-age children and young adults. However, anyone at any age can get appendicitis. An infected appendix that ruptures can cause complications. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires surgery.

Other Stomach Problems

• Some other stomach problems that can affect kids are lactose intolerance and inflammatory bowel disease. Lactose intolerance is characterized by a person's inability to digest lactose, a type of sugar found in dairy products. Babies born with a rare condition called primary lactase deficiency can suffer from lactose intolerance. Lactase deficiency results when cells in the small intestine are unable to produce sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase. Babies lacking this enzyme may experience growth problems, diarrhea and vomiting. Children can also experience temporary lactose intolerance, which can be caused by an infection like rotavirus.

  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the general term used for diseases that cause intestinal inflammations. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the two common types of IBD. Although IBD affects mainly people between the ages of 15 and 30, young children can have this disease. The symptoms of IBD can include diarrhea, growth problems, weight loss and stomach pain. Inflammatory bowel disease can sometimes be difficult to diagnose and can cause other health problems.