Lower Abdominal Pain in Children

There are many conditions that cause abdominal pain in children; some are dangerous, while others are not. It is important to understand the different types of abdominal pain so that you can know whether your child needs to see a doctor, or whether she just needs to go to the bathroom. Here are the major reasons for abdominal pain in children.

Stomach Virus

• A stomach virus is caused by an infection. Stomach viruses are typically short-lived and can feel like an upset stomach.

Food Poisoning

• Food poisoning can cause diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain that feels like a churning inside. It happens when your child has ingested food that had dangerous bacteria on it, such as E. coli.

Poison

• Sometimes poisoning can be the cause of abdominal pain. Make sure that your child has not eaten anything that could potentially poison him, such as permanent markers, soap or pills.

Appendix

• If the appendix is inflamed, it could lead to appendicitis, a dangerous and sometimes fatal condition. The pain is on the right side of the abdomen and will need to be looked at by a doctor right away.

Constipation

• Constipation can cause abdominal pain that can feel sharp and achy. This pain will go away once your child has a bowel movement.