What does it mean when a toddler says his stomach hurts?

What does it mean when a toddler says his stomach hurts?

Stomachaches are incredibly common in children. Most of the time they are nothing serious at all. Most are just from a mild stomach bug, or some constipation, or hunger — or are a child’s way of getting out of something they don’t want to do. But a stomach pain can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem.

When to know if your child has stomach pain?

A sore tummy is more likely to be a sign of something serious if it wakes your child up, or if the pain is in a specific area of the abdomen, away from your child’s belly button. For example, in appendicitis, the pain is usually sharp, and the pain often starts in the middle then moves to the lower right section of the abdomen.

What causes stomach pain in an adolescent girl?

In adolescent girls, stomach pain can have several gynaecological causes, including a twisted ovary, ectopic pregnancy and period pain. Sometimes stomach pain is called functional abdominal pain. In these cases, nerve signals or chemicals might be making your child’s stomach more sensitive to normal triggers like gas.

What do you need to know about stomach pain?

The symptoms that come with stomach pain vary depending on what’s causing the stomach pain. For example, if the stomach pain comes with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, the problem could be gastroenteritis or food poisoning. Cramps and general pain might be associated with excess wind and bloating.

Why does my child vomit when she has stomach pain?

It is most concerning when a child cannot be distracted from the pain with play, or refuses to drink or eat for several hours. Children vomit quite frequently with abdominal pain, but vomiting does not always indicate a serious problem. However, as with the duration of the pain, most simple causes of vomiting go away very quickly.

How often does a child have stomach pain?

Unexplained stomach pain in children is relatively common, according to Howard. About one in six kids suffers from recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) of childhood, usually after age five. The ache generally affects the middle of the tummy during the day, seemingly without a specific cause.

How to tell if your baby has stomach pain?

Your little one might be telling you they’ve got tummy pains if they show one or more of these signs: 1 Acts fussy or grumpy 2 Doesn’t sleep or eat 3 Cries more than usual 4 Diarrhea 5 Vomiting 6 Trouble being still (squirming or tensing up muscles) 7 Makes faces that show pain (squeezing eyes shut, grimacing)

When to seek medical attention for your child’s stomach?

Here’s how to evaluate the severity of your child’s stomachaches. Frequent or chronic stomachaches could indicate that something in the digestive system needs medical attention. Keep in mind that children might say that their stomach hurts when the the pain actually originates in a nearby organ, like the appendix.

What causes stomach pain and bloating in children?

Treatments include acid-reducing drugs, which tends to work well in children. Celiac disease is another issue that children may suffer from. It causes a lifelong intolerance to gluten — found in wheat, barley, rye, and some oats — and can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and loose or hard stools.