What are the common causes of stomach pain in children. How can parents identify and manage different types of abdominal discomfort in kids. When should parents seek medical attention for their child’s stomach pain. What home remedies can help alleviate stomach pain in children.

Common Causes of Stomach Pain in Children

Stomach pain is a frequent complaint among children, and as a parent, it’s essential to understand the various factors that can contribute to this discomfort. Let’s explore the most common causes of abdominal pain in kids:

• Indigestion
• Gastrointestinal infections
• Constipation
• Stress or anxiety
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Functional abdominal pain
• Appendicitis (in acute cases)

These causes can manifest in different ways, presenting various symptoms such as cramping, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea, or vomiting. Understanding the underlying cause is crucial for proper management and treatment.

Identifying the Location of Stomach Pain

The location of stomach pain can provide valuable insights into its potential cause. Dr. Megha S. Mehta, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children’s Healthâ„  and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, emphasizes the importance of pinpointing where the pain occurs. Here’s a breakdown of what different pain locations might indicate:

Pain Around the Belly Button

Abdominal discomfort centered around the belly button is generally not a cause for major concern. It’s often associated with stress or dietary issues. To alleviate this type of pain, consider the following steps:

• Encourage your child to rest
• Check if they need to use the bathroom
• Offer water to stay hydrated
• Engage in calming activities like reading or quiet games

Pain in the Lower Right Abdomen

When a child experiences pain in the lower right part of their abdomen, it’s crucial to be vigilant about the possibility of appendicitis. This condition requires immediate medical attention. Watch for these additional symptoms:

• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty passing gas
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in bowel movements (constipation or diarrhea)

If you suspect appendicitis, contact your child’s pediatrician without delay to prevent potential complications.

Pain on the Left Side of the Abdomen

Discomfort on the left side of the stomach can range from minor issues like constipation to more severe conditions such as pancreatitis. While it’s natural to feel concerned, Dr. Mehta advises parents not to panic immediately. Most cases of left-sided abdominal pain are benign, but it’s always best to consult with a pediatrician for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

Pain in the Upper Abdomen

When children complain of pain in their upper abdomen, indigestion is often the culprit. Look out for these signs of indigestion:

• Pain in the middle of the upper belly
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Burping
• Heartburn

It’s worth noting that pain in the upper right side of the abdomen could potentially indicate gallstones. While less common in children, certain risk factors such as obesity, specific health conditions like sickle cell disease, or a family history of gallstone disease may increase the likelihood of their occurrence in kids.

Home Remedies for Stomach Pain in Children

In many cases, stomach pain in children resolves on its own with some simple interventions. Here are some trusted home remedies to help alleviate your child’s discomfort:

1. Encourage rest and relaxation
2. Ensure proper hydration with clear liquids
3. Offer over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (as appropriate for your child’s age and weight)
4. Apply a heating pad to soothe cramps and pain
5. Provide a bland diet consisting of easily digestible foods like crackers and soups
6. Consider stool softeners for constipation-related pain (consult your pediatrician first)

Remember, these remedies are general guidelines. Always consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized advice, especially if symptoms persist or worsen.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Stomach Pain

While many instances of stomach pain in children can be managed at home, certain situations warrant immediate medical attention. Be alert for the following red flags:

• Severe or persistent pain that doesn’t improve with home remedies
• Signs of dehydration (e.g., dry mouth, decreased urination)
• High fever accompanying the stomach pain
• Bloody stools or vomit
• Swollen or tender abdomen
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Unexplained weight loss

If you observe any of these symptoms or if your parental instinct tells you something is seriously wrong, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s pediatrician or seek emergency care.

Preventing Stomach Pain in Children

While it’s not always possible to prevent stomach pain entirely, there are steps you can take to reduce its frequency and severity in your child:

• Encourage a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Ensure adequate hydration throughout the day
• Promote regular physical activity
• Establish a consistent bathroom routine
• Teach stress management techniques
• Limit consumption of known trigger foods (e.g., spicy or fatty foods)
• Practice good hand hygiene to prevent infections

By implementing these preventive measures, you can help maintain your child’s digestive health and reduce the likelihood of stomach discomfort.

Understanding Functional Abdominal Pain in Children

Functional abdominal pain is a common condition in children that can be challenging to diagnose and manage. Unlike other causes of stomach pain, functional abdominal pain is not associated with any identifiable organic cause. Key points to understand about this condition include:

• It’s characterized by recurrent or chronic abdominal pain without evidence of an underlying physical condition
• The pain is real and can significantly impact a child’s quality of life
• Stress, anxiety, and other psychological factors may play a role in its development and exacerbation
• Management often involves a multidisciplinary approach, including dietary modifications, stress reduction techniques, and sometimes cognitive-behavioral therapy

If your child experiences persistent abdominal pain without an apparent cause, consult with a pediatric gastroenterologist to explore the possibility of functional abdominal pain and develop an appropriate management plan.

The Role of Diet in Managing Stomach Pain

Diet plays a crucial role in both preventing and managing stomach pain in children. Consider the following dietary strategies to support your child’s digestive health:

Foods to Include:

• Fiber-rich foods to promote healthy digestion (e.g., fruits, vegetables, whole grains)
• Probiotic-rich foods to support gut health (e.g., yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut)
• Lean proteins for balanced nutrition
• Hydrating foods like watermelon and cucumber

Foods to Limit or Avoid:

• Highly processed and sugary foods
• Caffeine and carbonated beverages
• Spicy or very fatty foods
• Known allergens or trigger foods specific to your child

Remember that every child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Pay attention to your child’s individual responses to different foods and adjust their diet accordingly.

Emotional Support for Children with Chronic Stomach Pain

Chronic or recurrent stomach pain can take a toll on a child’s emotional well-being. As a parent, providing emotional support is just as important as addressing the physical symptoms. Consider these strategies:

• Validate your child’s feelings and experiences
• Encourage open communication about their pain and concerns
• Help them develop coping strategies for managing pain and discomfort
• Maintain a positive and supportive home environment
• Consider counseling or therapy if the pain significantly impacts their quality of life
• Educate teachers and caregivers about your child’s condition to ensure consistent support

By addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of stomach pain, you can help your child develop resilience and better manage their symptoms over time.

The Importance of Regular Check-ups and Follow-ups

Regular medical check-ups play a vital role in managing and preventing stomach pain in children. Here’s why they’re important:

• Early detection of potential underlying conditions
• Monitoring of growth and development
• Adjustment of treatment plans as needed
• Opportunity to address any new concerns or symptoms
• Reinforcement of healthy habits and preventive measures

Maintain open communication with your child’s healthcare provider and attend scheduled appointments to ensure comprehensive care for your child’s digestive health.

In conclusion, understanding the various causes, symptoms, and management strategies for stomach pain in children empowers parents to provide the best care for their little ones. By staying informed, observant, and proactive, you can help your child navigate through episodes of stomach discomfort and maintain overall digestive health. Remember, when in doubt, always consult with your child’s pediatrician for personalized advice and care.

Stomach Pain in Kids – Children’s Health

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As many parents know, children and stomach aches seem to go hand in hand. Stomach pain in kids can be caused by a variety of common reasons such as eating too much, needing to go to the bathroom, or anxiety or worry about an upcoming event. However, if your child complains of stomach pain frequently, it can be difficult to know the best ways to help and when to call the doctor.

Megha S. Mehta, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children’s Health℠ and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, explains when parents should worry about stomach pain and when a little rest and hydration is all your child may need.

What can cause stomach pain in a child?

The most common causes of stomach pain in children include:

• Indigestion
• Infection or stomach bug
• Constipation
• Stress or anxiety
• Irritable bowel syndrome or functional abdominal pain
• Appendicitis (causes acute or sudden pain)

Additional stomach pain symptoms can vary based on what’s causing your child’s stomach to hurt, but may include cramping, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea or vomiting. One of the most important symptoms to note is where your child is feeling pain in their stomach.

“One of the first questions we ask children is where their stomach hurts,” explains Dr. Mehta. “Location of the pain can help physicians determine what is causing the pain, in addition to other characteristics such as severity of pain, when it occurs, what makes it better or worse and accompanying symptoms.”

Stomach pain around the belly button

Stomach pain around or near a child’s belly button is usually nothing to worry about. It’s one of the most common stomach pain complaints among kids.

“Children often rub their bellies when they hurt and complain about general pain around the belly button,” says Dr. Mehta. “This type of stomach pain is typically caused by stress or eating something that didn’t quite agree with them.”

If your child is complaining about stomach pain near the belly button, you can:

• Encourage them to lay down and rest
• Check to see if they need to poop
• Offer a glass of water
• Try distracting them by reading a book together or playing a quiet game

Stomach pain in the lower right part of the abdomen

Appendicitis is a serious medical emergency that can cause sudden, severe pain in the lower right part of your child’s stomach. If your child complains of stomach pain that moves to the lower right side of the belly, watch for other symptoms of appendicitis including:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Difficulty passing gas
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

You should contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if you suspect your child has appendicitis. Early diagnosis decreases risk of a ruptured appendix or serious complications.

Stomach pain on the left side of the abdomen

If your child is complaining about pain on the left side of their stomach, it could be caused by something as simple as constipation to a more severe condition like pancreatitis. Dr. Mehta reminds parents not to panic just because their child is experiencing pain.

“Most of the time, stomach pain on the left side is caused by something mild, like constipation. Rarely, it can be a sign of something more serious,” she says. “Your child’s pediatrician can work with you to better understand the pain and symptoms your child experiences to ensure they receive an accurate diagnosis – and more importantly, find relief.”

Stomach pain in the upper abdomen

If your child is complaining about pain in their upper abdomen, they may be experiencing indigestion. Telltale signs of indigestion include:

• Pain in the middle of the upper belly
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Burping
• Heartburn

“Indigestion may be the cause, if your child complains about pain in their upper belly, especially if it happens after eating certain foods,” says Dr. Mehta.

If your child has pain in the upper right side of their abdomen, this could also be a sign of gallstones. Gallstones are more common in adults than in children, but some children may be more at risk for developing gallstones including children with obesity, children with certain health conditions including sickle cell disease, and children with a family history of gallstone disease.

What can I give my child for stomach pain?

Stomach pain usually resolves itself after your child:

• Rests
• Has a bowel movement
• Passes gas
• Recovers from a stomach virus

There’s no specific treatment for an upset stomach, but you can help relieve your child’s symptoms. Trusted home remedies for stomach pain in kids include:

• Offering plenty of clear liquids to keep your child hydrated
• Offering ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain
• Using a heating pad to ease cramps and pain
• Offering a bland diet, like crackers and soups
• Giving your child stool softeners, like MiraLAX® to ease constipation (see other ways to prevent and treat constipation in kids)
• Mixing a probiotic in your child’s water, which may help stop diarrhea

When should I take my child to the doctor for stomach pain?

Stomach pain in children is usually nothing to worry about. But, if your child experiences any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician to determine the cause of your child’s pain:

• Constipation that is becoming frequent
• Recurrent stomach pain with no clear cause
• Blood in stool
• Diarrhea
• Fever and cough
• Pain when urinating
• Unexplained weight loss
• Looks or acts sick
• Pain that is waking your child up from sleep or is starting to affect their daily lives
• Jaundice

Your child’s pediatrician can help you determine if you need to seek immediate medical attention.

When to go to the ER for stomach pain in kids

If your child experiences any of the following symptoms with stomach pain, call 911 immediately or take your child to the emergency room (ER):

• Severe pain in the stomach
• Loss of consciousness, fatigue or ill appearing
• Difficulty breathing
• Dehydration
• Blood in vomit or green-colored vomit

When kids have stomach aches, it can be hard to pinpoint a cause or if you should be concerned. A #pediatric GI expert from @Childrens addresses when to call the doctor.

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Learn more

The Children’s Health Pediatric Gastroenterology program offers specialized, compassionate care to help treat, manage and improve your child’s digestive health. Our team offers minimally invasive diagnostic techniques and the latest advances in care to help your child and family feel their best. When stomach pain in kids becomes a chronic issue, our Chronic Abdominal Pain Clinic offers help and hope.

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Stomach Flu Remedies for Kids

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The stomach flu, also called viral gastroenteritis, is not to be confused with the flu caused by the influenza virus. The stomach flu is caused by viruses, such as norovirus and rotavirus, that irritate and infect the digestive system. It can be a common illness among kids, who may not be as good at washing their hands as adults and spend more time touching the same objects as other kids.

Unfortunately for little ones, the stomach flu can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Isabel Rojas, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children’s Health℠ and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, shares the best remedies for stomach flu in kids and ways to help settle your child’s stomach.

How do you treat a child’s stomach virus?

The best ways to treat the stomach flu in kids are hydration and rest. “For hydration, use a rehydration solution that’s available in any store and over the counter,” says Dr. Rojas. “Start with small sips and increase gradually, so they don’t vomit it up.”

Water alone may not be enough to rehydrate kids safely, especially younger children. Kids lose electrolytes when they vomit or have diarrhea. This can lead to low sodium in the blood, a dangerous situation. A rehydration solution, like Pedialyte, replenishes fluids and electrolytes. Broth can also be helpful.

You can also make a rehydration solution at home by combining 4 ¼ cups of water, 6 teaspoons of sugar and a ½ teaspoon of salt.

Dr. Rojas also recommends lots of rest for children. Rest can help the digestive system settle and heal.

Does medicine help the stomach flu?

Though you may want to give your child a medicine to help with stomach flu symptoms, Dr. Rojas recommends against it. Because the stomach flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help.

“Usually we just need to let the virus run its own course,” says Dr. Rojas. “Trying to take medications can prolong symptoms and make them worse.”

Dr. Rojas says the only exception to the no-medicine rule is the appropriate dose of acetaminophen if your child has a fever.

What do you feed a child with the stomach flu?

Once your child has stopped vomiting, they can start to eat foods again. The best foods after the stomach flu are the BRAT diet of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

“These foods are very easy to digest,” says Dr. Rojas. “Children can also have crackers, or grilled or boiled chicken.”

Children should avoid greasy, heavy or spicy foods for a few days after they experience vomiting. Avoiding dairy could also be beneficial due to a transient lactose intolerance after stomach flu, though infants should still breastfeed or have formula if able to tolerate.

Certain drinks, like apple juice or carbonated beverages, can make vomiting or diarrhea worse, so it’s best to stick to rehydration solution or plain water.

If your child has nausea or vomiting again, it’s best to stop the food until their stomach can settle.

How long does the stomach flu last in kids?

A stomach flu usually lasts between one and three days. Vomiting typically lasts for less than 24 hours.

However, if your child’s symptoms continue for more than 5 days, you should call your pediatrician. You should also call your pediatrician if your child has:

• A high fever
• Severe abdominal pain
• Diarrhea or vomiting with blood
• Signs of dehydration like not urinating, dry skin, no tears or rapid breathing

With the right rest and rehydration, your child should make a full recovery in just a few days. Dr. Rojas says they can even return to school once the diarrhea has stopped and they have not had a fever for 24 hours.

The best ways to treat the stomach flu in kids are hydration and rest. Learn signs, symptoms and other ways to treat stomach flu in kids from an expert @Childrens.

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Diarrhea in a child | Treatment of diarrhea in children

Diarrhea in a child develops on the background of errors in nutrition, stress. Diarrhea is often a sign of an intestinal infection, inflammatory bowel disease, a manifestation of a food allergy, or drug damage. For the treatment of diarrhea in a child, an integrated approach is used: diet therapy, rehydration, drug therapy to eliminate the causes and consequences of diarrhea.

Causes and symptoms of diarrhea in a child

Diarrhea in children can be physiological and pathological, caused by the action of pathogens and other external stimuli. Let’s consider these types in more detail.

Physiological factors

Frequent bowel movements, liquid stools are normal for newborns and infants. Stools in infants may be pasty or unformed, and have a sour smell when breastfeeding. In children on artificial feeding, the stools are more dense and viscous.

Normally, the daily number of bowel movements in newborns is up to 8 times.

Short-term diarrhea is a frequent consequence of dietary errors. This can be caused by eating too many sweets or fatty, unhealthy foods at one time. In infants, physiological diarrhea occurs when changing the mixture, introducing complementary foods. Diarrhea can be a reaction to stress, but after the elimination of provoking factors, it disappears on its own.

With physiological diarrhea, the stool returns to normal within 1-2 days, the general state of health is normal, there are no other negative symptoms.

Acute intestinal infections (AII)

It is intestinal infections that most often cause diarrhea in children of different ages. They are especially dangerous for children under 5 years of age due to the rapid development of dehydration.

Intestinal infections always begin suddenly, proceed in an acute form. Infectious diarrhea is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, rumbling in the abdomen, flatulence, and sharp pain in the abdomen.

OII groups:

1. Viral. The main causative agents of pathology in children are enteroviruses, rotaviruses. When entering the body, they cause loose stools with mucus impurities, the daily number of bowel movements increases up to 15-20 times. In severe secretory diarrhea, a watery discharge with a fecal odor is observed during bowel movements.
2. Bacterial. Salmonellosis is accompanied by liquid green stools with a sharp unpleasant odor, with escherichiosis, stools become orange or bright yellow. With dysentery during defecation, a small amount of mucus interspersed with blood is released. A characteristic sign of cholera – feces resembles rice water.
3. Protozoa. Signs of Giardia infection are similar to enterocolitis, enteritis. Amoebiasis is accompanied by mucous stools, in which there are many blood streaks.

Food allergy

In allergic enterocolitis, a child has loose stools with a lot of mucus and particles of undigested food. In a severe course of the disease, blood impurities appear in the feces. The severity of symptoms depends on the amount of the allergen that has entered the body, the type of allergic reaction.

Diarrhea occurs hours or days after exposure to the allergen. In addition, skin and respiratory signs of allergy are observed.

Chronic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract

In diseases of the digestive system, diarrhea lasts more than two weeks, periods of remission are replaced by an exacerbation phase. The problem mainly occurs in schoolchildren against the background of non-infectious lesions of the digestive system.

Disease groups:

1. Congenital pathologies. Protracted and repeated diarrhea in a child occurs with celiac disease, disaccharidase deficiency. Diarrhea occurs after eating intolerable foods. Fecal masses have an unpleasant odor, liquid with particles of undigested food.
2. Somatic diseases. Periodically, diarrhea occurs when the rules of nutrition and treatment of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and hepatitis are violated. Exacerbation develops after the use of prohibited foods. Loose stools are accompanied by pain in the abdomen in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe diseased organ, bouts of nausea and vomiting.
3. Inflammatory processes in the intestines. Crohn’s disease is accompanied by repeated diarrhea, severe pain in the abdomen. In the feces, blood is often present in the form of scarlet streaks or dark clots. Signs of nonspecific ulcerative colitis – poor diarrhea, blood in the stool.

Inflammation of the appendix

In children, an attack of acute appendicitis often resembles food poisoning: there are repeated diarrhea without foreign impurities, refusal to eat, nausea, single vomiting, pain in the navel, in the right side. In this case, the protective tension of the muscles of the peritoneum, pathognomonic physical symptoms can be blurred.

Consequence of antibiotic therapy

The problem often occurs in children of the first years of life due to the inferiority of the intestinal microflora. Most often, loose stools are observed during treatment with macrolides, lincosamides, cephalosporin or tetracycline antibiotics. Diarrhea up to 15 times a day, feces frothy, greenish, with a pungent odor.

Diarrhea in newborns

Diarrhea in newborns is most often physiological, diarrhea occurs against the background of adaptation of the digestive tract. If the number of bowel movements in infants up to three months is not more than 7 times a day, there are no other negative symptoms, there is no reason for concern.

Abnormal diarrhea in a newborn may be a manifestation of hereditary diseases – enzymatic deficiency, congenital chloride diarrhea or exudative enteropathy. Less commonly, the cause of diarrhea in infants is a viral infection, dysbiosis. Dysbacteriosis develops against the background of late attachment to the breast, with artificial feeding, errors in the mother’s diet, and taking antibiotics.

Diarrhea in an infant up to one year old

After the introduction of complementary foods, food allergies and intolerance to certain products often appear. Diseases are manifested in the form of foamy stools, bloating.

Celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, develops 1–3 months after the introduction of products that contain barley, wheat, rye into the child’s diet. The second common cause of diarrhea in children under one year old is an allergy to cow’s milk protein, which manifests itself after the introduction of dairy products.

Loose stools can be caused by the abuse of juices, water, mixtures. Such diarrhea does not apply to pathologies, it disappears after correction of feeding.

Diarrhea in children from one year old

After 12 months, the child begins to actively explore everything around, often puts hands and foreign objects in his mouth. As a result, the likelihood of poisoning, the development of infectious diarrhea of ​​​​a viral or bacterial nature increases.

Diarrhea may be caused by atony or weak bowel contraction. The problem occurs with some lesions of the nervous system, stress.

After 18 months, the child may develop adult-type lactase deficiency. In infancy, there was enough lactase, but as they grow older, the synthesis of the enzyme slowed down. After a year, there may be debuts of inflammatory, autoimmune bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome. Most often, these diseases begin after severe stress, nervous shock.

Do’s and Don’ts:

• force-feed if you have no appetite;
• give antibiotics, antidiarrheals, enzymes and other medicines without a doctor’s prescription;
• use potassium permanganate for gastric lavage;
• vomiting and diarrhea are protective reactions, as the body is cleansed of toxins, so it is impossible to immediately give medicines for diarrhea and vomiting;
• prohibit drinking water for fear of vomiting.

Be sure to call a doctor if:

• there are blood impurities in the feces, vomit;
• dark green vomit;
• the child completely refuses to eat, drink;
• there was a sharp and severe pain in the right side of the abdomen;
• the temperature rose sharply;
• diarrhea lasting more than 8–12 hours;
• the child is constantly thirsty;
• there were signs of dehydration – dry skin and mucous membranes, a decrease in the volume of urine and the number of urination, no tears when crying, retraction of the fontanel in the baby.

Diagnosis

If your child has frequent diarrhea, visit the pediatrician. After collecting anamnesis, physical examination, consultation with a gastroenterologist, allergist, infectious disease specialist may be required.

Diagnostic methods:

1. Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. Assign to exclude urgent surgical conditions, to study the structural features of the gastrointestinal tract. It is possible to identify chronic inflammatory processes, congenital malformations, symptoms of damage to the liver, pancreas, and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
2. X-ray of the gastrointestinal tract with contrast. The study of the state of the walls of the stomach, intestines, colon.
3. Fecal analysis. The coprogram shows the presence of undigested food particles, striated muscle fibers, an increase in the level of mucus, leukocytes.
4. Bakposev, PCR of feces. Assign to exclude or confirm viral, bacterial intestinal infections.
5. Clinical, biochemical blood test. It is carried out to identify the inflammatory process, assess the functioning of internal organs, the degree of dehydration, and select effective therapy.
6. Serological blood tests are necessary in severe infectious pathologies.

Treatment

Before diagnosis, the main goal is to avoid dehydration. The child needs to drink a little salted water, dried fruit compote, rice water – often, but in small portions of 1-2 tsp. every 5-10 minutes, the liquid should be warm. After each bowel movement, drink 50–200 ml of water. To quickly cleanse the body of toxins, give enterosorbents.

Conservative therapy in a satisfactory condition of the child can be carried out on an outpatient basis. In severe, dangerous pathological conditions, hospitalization in the infectious, gastroenterological, and surgical departments is required.

The treatment regimen depends on the severity of dehydration:

1. For mild exsicosis, oral rehydration agents are prescribed. Breastfed babies need to breastfeed more often.
2. For moderate dehydration, an increased fluid load is administered orally in the first 4 hours to eliminate the effects of frequent defecation. After improving the patient’s well-being, they are transferred to standard maintenance rehydration.
3. For severe dehydration, saline solutions are given intravenously. The volume depends on the patient’s body weight, blood test results.

Diet therapy is an important part of the treatment of diarrhea in a child. In the early days, sparing nutrition is shown: slimy soups, pureed cereals, biscuit cookies, stewed vegetables in a small amount. Gradually, lean meat dishes, dairy products are introduced into the diet. If diarrhea is caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, intolerance to certain foods, the diet is prescribed taking into account the underlying disease.

Drugs for drug therapy are selected according to the cause of diarrhea in a child. For mild and moderate intestinal infections, specific treatment is not required. Antibiotics are prescribed for severe bacterial infections, primary or secondary immunodeficiency, with a history of severe concomitant diseases.

Pathogenetic treatment – enterosorbents, drugs for vomiting and diarrhea. Probiotics and prebiotics are prescribed to restore the balance of the intestinal microflora.

Acute appendicitis requires emergency surgery. Elective surgeries are performed for severe, recurrent bowel diseases – Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis. Surgical treatment is necessary to eliminate bleeding, remove the ulcerated area, segmental resection, and anastomosis.

Features of the treatment of diarrhea in newborns, infants and toddlers

Diarrhea often occurs in children of different ages, and parents are not always in a hurry to see a doctor. But in infants, diarrhea is more severe than in adults, and severe dehydration quickly develops, since there is practically no internal fluid supply. Therefore, with frequent and loose stools in a child, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

At home, you need to give your child a little water to make up for the lack of liquid. Slightly salted water is suitable for small children. Older children – rice water, weak tea without sugar, vegetable broth, special pharmacy solutions for rehydration. You can not drink sweet and carbonated drinks, juices. But if the child wants to drink only forbidden drinks and they do not cause an attack of vomiting, let him drink. In such situations, it is important that some kind of liquid constantly enters the body.

There are no restrictions on the amount of fluid consumed. Minimum – 50-200 ml after each bowel movement. In severe dehydration, the fluid is urgently started to be administered intravenously.

With diarrhea, appetite often disappears, it is recommended to completely refuse food for 4-6 hours, but this method is not suitable for small children. With diarrhea, the absorption of nutrients is disrupted, and a long break between meals is dangerous.

Children with diarrhea should be given light but nutritious meals. During the acute period, a diet of rice, applesauce, bananas and toast or crackers is indicated, with the addition of tea. The diet helps to cope with diarrhea, but contains little protein, so you can’t stick to it for a long time.

Babies with diarrhea can be switched to a lactose-free formula. If diarrhea started after the introduction of complementary foods, it is better to temporarily stop complementary foods.

Antiviral and antimicrobial drugs, enzymes can only be prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication will do more harm than good. Sorbents can be given independently, preferably in the form of a suspension, powder. Activated charcoal adversely affects the thin gastric mucosa.

Prevention

To avoid a recurrence of diarrhea in a child, it is necessary to thoroughly wash vegetables, fruits, and hands. The baby can only drink purified water. Children should not be given food without proper heat treatment.

Babies should be gently weaned from the habit of putting their hands in their mouths, trying everything by mouth. If this has not been done yet, you should often carry out wet cleaning using natural safe detergents, disinfect nipples, toys.

Abdominal pain and diarrhea in a child: causes and methods of treatment

Author, editor and medical expert – Smolnyakova Olesya Vladislavovna.

Editor and medical expert – Harutyunyan Mariam Harutyunovna.

Number of views: 60 042

Date last updated: 12/29/2022

Average reading time: 7 minutes

90 207 Contents:

What is considered diarrhea?
Why does stool consistency change?
Causes of abdominal pain and loose stools in children
Irritable bowel syndrome
Past acute intestinal infection (AII)
Violation of microflora
Nutrition
Climate change
Taking certain medications
What to do with diarrhea and abdominal pain in a child

A sign of the correct functioning of the child’s gastrointestinal tract is regular stool 1-2 times a day ¹ . But when it becomes frequent, softer or more liquid, the first thing parents think is: “it’s diarrhea.” In fact, a healthy child or adolescent may have a slightly more frequent bowel movement than usual, depending on the diet. However, if there are complaints of abdominal pain, you need to treat all the symptoms carefully.

What should I do if my child has stomach pain due to diarrhea? We will analyze this issue in detail in the article.

What is considered diarrhea?

According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), diarrhea is the passage of liquid stool 3 or more times a day ⁵ . In this case, special attention should be paid not only to the frequency of emptying, but also to the consistency of the stool. Frequent passing of formed feces is not considered diarrhea ⁵ , that is, with diarrhea, the stool not only becomes more frequent – it becomes more watery, liquid, and sometimes impurities (mucus, blood or undigested food particles) may be present in it ^3.4 .

Since it is not always easy to understand how shaped a stool is, experts have created a special scale – the Bristol stool scale. It includes 7 categories that classify feces depending on their appearance ¹ .

Diarrhea, according to the scale, corresponds to types 5, 6 and 7 ³ .

Why does the consistency of feces change?

The consistency of the stool is determined by its water-holding capacity, i.e. the amount of unbound, “free” water ⁴ . If normally the water content in the feces is 60-70%, then with diarrhea it increases to 85-95% ¹⁸ .

To understand why a child develops loose stools, let’s imagine how his digestive system works. Approximately 1.5-2 liters of liquid ² enter the gastrointestinal tract every day – this is how much we usually drink or consume in the form of liquid food. Digestive juices are added to this volume, and 4-5 times more enters the small intestine than the volume of liquid that came in the form of drinks or food. Most of this fluid is absorbed in the lower small intestine, where stool formation has already begun. But the final “squeezing out” of feces occurs in the large intestine, which, however, is only able to absorb 5 liters of water. Therefore, when more than five liters enter the large intestine from the small intestine ² , or the stool moves faster ⁹ , the amount of “free” water in the stool increases ⁹ and it becomes liquid.

We have described the mechanism of diarrhea development ² , now let’s talk about the reasons that trigger these mechanisms.

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Causes of abdominal pain and loose stools in children

Of course, the stomach does not always hurt with diarrhea, but the appearance of both symptoms at the same time may mean the presence of inflammation in the intestines ¹⁷ , spasm ¹⁷ or hyperextension of its wall ¹³ .

If the child has stomach pain and diarrhea, an acute intestinal infection may be the cause. In children and adolescents, it is acute, usually caused by viruses ¹¹ (rotavirus infection ³ , also known as “intestinal flu” ⁶ ) or bacteria – salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis ⁸ , dysentery ^{2 90 225 . In an intestinal infection, pain is usually due to spasm of intestinal smooth muscle 18 .}

Infectious gastroenteritis – inflammation of the stomach and small intestine – in children are manifested by characteristic symptoms ¹⁶ :

• acute onset;
• fever;
• lack of appetite;
• nausea, vomiting;
• cramping pains in the abdomen;
• diarrhea, sometimes with false urge to defecate.

If the above complaints appear, you should not hesitate or self-medicate – you need to contact a specialist. If an infection is ruled out, the doctor continues to look for non-infectious causes of abdominal pain and diarrhea in children. Unlike acute intestinal infections, these digestive disorders usually last 3 months or more and proceed in a chronic form ⁷ .

We offer to analyze the most common causes of abdominal pain with diarrhea in a child, not related to exposure to viruses and bacteria.

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Diarrhea and abdominal pain are commonly reported by children who are often anxious, have some kind of phobia or are prone to mood swings. If your child is used to suppressing emotions or having difficulty coping with psychological stress, this can affect bowel movements, causing diarrhea. At the same time, stress can lower the pain threshold ¹⁵ , so the child becomes more sensitive even to the usual, non-painful irritation of the intestinal wall ¹⁹ . A similar condition is characteristic of irritable bowel syndrome ¹⁵ .

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Past acute intestinal infection (AII)

In some children, diarrhea becomes chronic after intestinal infections ⁴ . The following factors predispose to this ⁴ :

• low body weight;
• immunodeficiency;
• diet poor in nutrients and trace elements;
• incorrect treatment of acute inflammation or non-compliance with medical recommendations.

If diarrhea continues to persist after an OKI, against the background of normalization of general well-being, you should consult a gastroenterologist. Ignoring painful manifestations in the future can lead to serious problems with digestion ⁴ .

Violation of the microflora

Dysbacteriosis (dysbiosis) is a qualitative and quantitative change in the normal composition of the intestinal microflora. In fact, this is a situation when the number of “good” microorganisms – bifido-, lactobacilli and enterococci – decreases, while the number of “bad” ones, on the contrary, grows ^{14. 20} .

This imbalance also develops in bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO). SIBO contributes to the formation of local inflammation, disrupts normal motor skills (motor activity) and, as a result, provokes diarrhea and abdominal pain ^14.20 .

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Nutrition

An unbalanced diet often causes loose stools and abdominal pain ⁷ . An important role is played by the love of children and adolescents for fatty foods ⁷ , soft drinks and sweetened drinks ⁴ .

Children and adolescents with food intolerances or allergies to certain foods are also prone to diarrhea and abdominal pain ³ . In these cases, following a strict diet allows you to normalize the work of the digestive tract ³ .

But sometimes parents’ attempts to ensure proper nutrition lead to such complaints. If the diet is overloaded with food that enhances motility (fresh vegetables and fruits), or starts fermentation processes (legumes, yeast products) ⁴ , the child may experience diarrhea and pain associated with overstretching of the intestinal walls and spasm of their smooth muscles ^{17. 19} .

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climate change

In some cases, when moving to a country with an unusual climate, diarrhea and abdominal pain are observed in the first 2 weeks. These are manifestations of the so-called “traveler’s diarrhea” ^2.22 .

In addition to climate change, indigestion also depends on a number of factors ² :

• refusal of the usual diet;
• unusual mineral composition of drinking water;
• exotic dishes on the menu;
• stress from moving.

Taking certain medications

Situations where diarrhea and abdominal pain occur while taking medications require special attention. This may indicate the development of adverse reactions. In this case, you cannot adjust the treatment yourself, you need to consult a pediatrician ³ .

How to deal with diarrhea and abdominal pain in a child

First of all, you need to see a doctor, because the cause may be an acute intestinal infection or inflammatory diseases that require urgent treatment. If the doctor has not identified acute illnesses, he may prescribe a diet and diet.

To restore digestion, it is recommended ² :

• eat small meals every 4 hours;
• drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration;
• give preference to dried white bread, boiled or baked vegetables and lean meat, processed cereals;
• limit the intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, fatty and fried foods.

In some cases, dietary advice is not enough to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of diarrhea and abdominal pain ³ . Then various preparations can be used ³ :

• solutions that compensate for the lack of salts and trace elements lost during diarrhea ² ;
• antibacterial ² ;
• toxin-binding enterosorbents ² ;
• probiotics and prebiotics for the correction of intestinal microflora ² ;
• astringents ² ;
• enzyme preparations ³ ;
• antidiarrhoeals ² .

As an antidiarrheal agent for children over 6 years old, the doctor may prescribe loperamide, the active ingredient of Imodium® Express® ¹² , which helps to stop diarrhea from the first application ¹³ . Imodium ® Express tablets are created using a special Zaidis technology, they do not need to be washed down – they dissolve on the tongue within a few seconds.

The drug works as follows ¹² :

• slows down the contraction of the intestinal wall;
• increases intestinal transit time;
• increases the tone of the anal sphincter, preventing the urge to defecate;
• reduces fecal incontinence.

Imodium ® Express is indicated for diarrhea that occurs on the background of allergies, emotional stress, medication. It also helps with traveler’s diarrhea or diarrhea that is caused by a change in your eating habits. But for infectious diarrhea, loperamide is approved for use only as an adjuvant ¹² .

Loose stools and abdominal pain in a child can be symptoms of many conditions and illnesses. Consult a doctor to find out the cause and start treatment in a timely manner. Correcting the diet and following the recommendations of the pediatrician will help alleviate the unpleasant symptoms in the child and prevent their recurrence.

The information in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment, contact a qualified specialist.

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References

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