Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children

It is not uncommon for a child to complain of a stomachache. The cause can be something as simple as gas or from eating too much. Children suffer abdominal pain for many different reasons ranging from the not-so-serious tummy ache to recurring pain that may signal a serious medical problem. Although, most times the cause of a child's bellyache is minor, when pain and discomfort recur, a parent should have the child thoroughly evaluated by a physician to rule out possible medical conditions.

Common Symptoms

• Pain related to a simple stomach virus is usually gone within a day. If pain continues for more than 24 hours, it may be time to contact your child's pediatrician. Vomiting that accompanies abdominal pain does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. However, a parent should be concerned if vomiting persists, is green or yellow in color or contains blood, in which case immediate emergency medical care may be needed. Diarrhea is another common symptom of the stomach virus, but if the condition lasts for more than three days or there is blood present in the stool, err on the side of caution and take your child to see a doctor.

Less Common Symptoms

• Abdominal pain can be a sign of a more serious problem if a child has trouble urinating. Infection often causes painful and frequent urination. Pain low on the right side of the abdomen could be appendicitis. Male children can also suffer a condition known as testicular torsion. Complaints of groin pain should be taken seriously as it could mean that a testicle has twisted on itself and is cutting off the blood supply. Although the condition is treatable if detected early, the child may need emergency medical care. Any time a child gets a rash along with abdominal pain, a doctor should be consulted.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of the cause of a child's recurrent abdominal pain can sometimes be difficult as more than one organ system can be affected. Physicians generally begin by taking a medical history and performing a physical exam, which may include both a pelvic and rectal exam. Blood, urine and stool samples will probably be taken to check the function of the liver or for the presence of lead, parasites or bacteria. Depending on the severity of a child's symptoms, the doctor may order other diagnostic tests or procedures. These may include x-rays of the abdomen, ultrasound, CT scan, or barium enema or swallow.

Prognosis

• Generally, a child's abdominal pain can be quickly identified and treated. However, undiagnosed pain that goes untreated can become serious or even life-threatening. More extensive medical intervention may required if a child's pain is due to a medical problem other than a stomach virus, food allergy or food poisoning.

Colitis

• Colitis, or inflammation of the colon, is most often associated with symptoms of diarrhea and constant stomach pain. While most episodes of colitis resolve themselves within hours, a parent should seek medical care for a child if pain intensifies, the child becomes dehydrated or is running a fever, or if there is blood in the stool.

Kidney Stones

• Kidney stones can cause severe, unrelenting pain in a child's back or side. When calcium crystals in the kidney do not remain tiny enough to pass through the urinary tract and out of the body in urine, hard masses known as kidney stones develop. Researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) report that more Americans are developing kidney stones including children. Doctors say that although children tend to get kidney stones less frequently than adults, the cause is usually a metabolic or genetic disease that makes them more susceptible to the condition.

Hernia

• A hernia, which is best described as a hole in the lower part of the abdominal wall, occurs more often in boys than in girls. Infants who are born prematurely are also more likely to have hernias. Hernias usually appear as a bulge in the groin or scrotum area. Even though some children may not suffer symptoms, a hernia can cause pain, swelling and sometimes bowel obstruction. A hernia will not go away by itself, and therefore, surgery is needed to prevent potential problems with digestion.