What Can Cause Stomach Pain In Kids

Parents with littles often hear cries of “I have a stomach ache!” or “my tummy hurts!” But how do you know if your child is truly dealing with something serious? It could be pain that’s mild and will go away on its own, or you may need to seek medical care. Let’s talk about how to make sure you know the main reasons and information for abdominal pain in children and whether or not you need to go to your local children’s hospital.

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Why is My Child Complaining of Stomach Pain?

There are a lot of reasons a little one might express that they are having some sort of abdominal pain, and you need to know what you’re looking for so you know exactly the right way to help them. It’s not usually a good idea to wait for it to go away if they’re experiencing pain often or if their stomachache seems to be more severe pain than usual. Use this information to help you narrow down their symptoms.

Food Poisoning

Kids can experience food-related illnesses just as easily as their parents. Make sure you look for symptoms like vomit, loose stool, and diarrhea. If those symptoms are present, call a doctor and give plenty of fluids. Help them feel better by avoiding dehydration and seeking treatment. In general, though, this kind of issue will dissipate in 24 hours or less.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a going concern when kids complain of abdominal pain. If the pain started near the belly button and moves to the lower right side, they have pain when their stomach is pressed, they are vomiting bright green, or have a distended stomach and a fever, you need to get them to a children’s hospital or emergency room right away to reduce risk of infection.

Gallbladder Trouble

Gallbladder issues are also common causes of abdominal pain, but not as easily diagnosed. Gallstones especially can show similar symptoms to appendicitis and food-related issues, but you may also notice jaundice and dark urine. Check their stool for gallstones and blood, and definitely call your children’s doctor.

Hunger and gas can also be a real cause of this complaint. This last possibility of stomach pain in children isn’t one to ignore by any means, and you shouldn’t assume that this is always the cause of stomach pain. But you know your child and you know their body fairly well, and you can typically tell when their abdominal pain is due to a need to eat, run-of-the-mill anxiety problems or gas, or any other common, everyday health concern.

When Should I Be Concerned About My Child’s Stomach Pain?

There are a few instances where it can be hard to tell the root cause of your kid’s pain, but sometimes it is very clear that there is a sign of something much more major at play. The reason isn’t always clear, but you can use this health information to consider the overall severity of the stomach pain and proceed from there.

Vomiting. If your child is vomiting, you should certainly talk to a doctor to be sure you help them properly. Whether or not it is food-related or something more serious causing their stomach pain, you should still consult your child’s doctor to be sure.
Constipation. This takes a bit longer to diagnose, but if your child is constipated for a while, they will have severe stomach pain and likely will need assistance. Thankfully, your child’s doctor can typically diagnose this sort of issue quickly and give you the support you need.
Diarrhea. With this symptom, stomach pain can be very intense and cause serious cramping. One bout is not normally a concern, but if your child can’t stop having diarrhea, they are likely struggling with something more serious and need to be taken to a children’s hospital.
Belly Button/Right Side pain. If your child isn’t a baby and can express where they feel pain, ask if it’s in these areas. If it is, one of the causes could be potentially serious. Our advice is not to stay home- take them to an emergency room ASAP and give the nurses all the information possible to diagnose the real cause of their stomach pain.
Weight Loss. If your child often complains of stomach pain and is also experiencing weight loss, something could definitely be going wrong. Whether due to food/eating disorders or some other diagnosis, this combined with stomach pain should not be ignored. A child’s sudden weight loss should always be a red flag.
Lethargy or Inability to move. When kids have pain that gets bad enough, they frequently shut down. Stomach pain that gets really severe can often cause a child to sit curled up in a ball in their bed, or cause excessive exhaustion. If your child doesn’t seem like himself for these reasons, be sure you see a doctor sooner rather than later.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of reasons for belly pain in people, and yes, your child may be experiencing true pain even if you’re worried they may just be exaggerating. Take the time to search for other symptoms. Here are some tips or things to try if you’re worried you’re overreacting:

Try to have your child avoid milk or dairy for a little while.

If this doesn’t help, the pain may be related to something else. But dairy is often a reason for stomach pain and constipation.

Feel your child’s abdomen.

If they react strongly to your touch, they may be having a more severe stomach issue.

Think about your child’s medical history through the years.

Do they frequently have stomach issues? If so, what typically caused that?

Review your own medical history.

Are there foods or triggers that lead you to stomach issues? If so, your child might have a genetic predisposition towards the stomach troubles you have.

If your child has tummy troubles, hopefully, this guide helped you determine the root issues and solutions.