What are the common causes of upset stomach in toddlers? How can parents address stomach pains in kids? Get answers to these questions and more.

Stomach Pains in Kids: Common Causes

Stomach pain in children is a common occurrence, and it can have various underlying causes. Understanding the different types of stomach pain and their potential triggers can help parents address their toddler’s tummy troubles effectively.

Types of Stomach Pain in Kids

Stomach pain in kids can manifest in different ways, and these variations can provide clues about the underlying cause.

Generalized Pain

If a toddler cannot pinpoint the source of their discomfort or indicates pain in more than half of their belly, it is likely a case of generalized pain. This type of stomach pain is often associated with indigestion, gas, constipation, or a stomach virus.

Localized Pain

When a child points to a specific area of their belly, it may indicate localized pain, which typically suggests a more significant issue. Localized pain can be a sign of problems with the appendix, gallbladder, ovaries, testicles, or a hernia or stomach ulcer.

Cramp-like Pain

Kids who experience cramp-like stomach pains are often dealing with gas or bloating, and diarrhea may follow the pains. Toddlers may not be able to verbalize their stomach pains, so parents should look for common signs like fussiness, loss of appetite, and drawing their legs up toward their belly.

Common Causes of Stomachache in Kids

While stomach pain in children is generally not something to worry about, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and address any concerns.

Constipation

Constipation is the most common cause of stomach pain in kids. This can be due to diet, difficulties during potty training, changes in routine, medications, or underlying health conditions like metabolic disorders. If constipation persists for more than two weeks or is accompanied by other symptoms like daily pain, blood in the stool, fever, or loss of appetite, parents should contact their child’s healthcare provider.

Food Allergies and Intolerances

Food allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities can also trigger stomach pain in toddlers. The most common allergy-producing foods include milk, eggs, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. While a food intolerance or sensitivity doesn’t involve an immune response like a food allergy, it can still cause stomach pain, gas, bloating, indigestion, and diarrhea. Parents should consult their child’s healthcare provider if they suspect a food-related issue.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Most stomach pains in kids are not serious and can be managed at home, but there are times when parents should contact their child’s healthcare provider. If a toddler’s stomach pain is accompanied by fever, persistent vomiting, severe pain, blood in the stool, or a swollen, tender abdomen, it’s essential to seek medical attention right away.

Preventing and Treating Stomach Pains in Toddlers

To help prevent and manage stomach pains in toddlers, parents can try the following strategies:

• Ensure their child is getting enough fiber and fluids in their diet.
• Encourage regular bowel movements and a comfortable potty training experience.
• Identify and eliminate any food allergies or intolerances.
• Manage stress and changes in routine that can disrupt digestion.
• Provide over-the-counter medications like antacids or anti-gas treatments, if recommended by a healthcare provider.
• Seek medical attention for persistent or severe stomach pain.

By understanding the common causes of stomach pain in toddlers and taking proactive steps to address them, parents can help their little ones find relief and prevent more serious issues from developing.

Conclusion

Stomach pain in toddlers is a common occurrence, but it’s essential for parents to understand the different types of pain and their potential causes. By identifying the underlying issue and taking appropriate action, parents can help their children find relief and prevent more serious health concerns. If a toddler’s stomach pain persists or is accompanied by other worrying symptoms, it’s always best to consult a healthcare provider for professional guidance and treatment.

Stomach Pains in Kids: Common Causes

If your toddler complains of stomach pains or tummy aches, they’re not alone. Stomach pain in kids is very common and is frequently the reason parents take their children to the doctor. Luckily, most stomachaches in kids don’t need medical intervention, but if your child complains of stomach pain every day, it might be something more serious. To help you know when to call your child’s healthcare provider, we’ve compiled the most common reasons for toddler tummy aches.

Types of Stomach Pain in Kids

Kids get tummy aches—they’re a normal part of toddler life. However, stomach pain presents itself in different ways, and these may sometimes provide clues to what’s causing the problem. The different types of stomach pain in kids include:

• Generalized pain. If your toddler can’t pinpoint their aches or indicates pain in more than half the tummy, they probably have generalized pain. This means the pain isn’t concentrated in a specific area. Generalized pain is common in cases of indigestion, gas, constipation, or a stomach virus.

• Localized pain. On the other hand, if your little one points to a specific area of the belly, it could be localized pain, which typically indicates a bigger problem. Localized pain is common in issues with the appendix, gallbladder, ovaries, and testicles, or indicates a hernia or stomach ulcer.

• Cramp-like pain. Kids who experience cramp-like stomach pains are often suffering from gas or bloating. Most likely, diarrhea will follow the pains.

Kids might not be able to alert you to their stomach pains, so they may rely on you to notice the common symptoms of a tummy ache. Besides trying to understand if the pain is generalized, localized, or cramp-like, look for these typical signs of tummy problems:

• Fussiness

• Loss of appetite

• Drawing legs up toward the belly.

If your toddler exhibits any of those symptoms, they probably have a tummy ache or pain.

Possible Causes of Stomachache in Kids

Stomach pain in children is normal and not usually something to worry about, which can give you a little peace of mind when you need it most! Of course, it’s always a good idea to consult your child’s healthcare provider, who can determine what’s behind your toddler’s tummy aches and address any questions or concerns. Here’s an overview of some of the most common causes of stomach pain in kids along with tips to help you know when it’s serious and may need medical attention.

Constipation

Of all the digestive issues that lead to kids’ stomach pain, constipation is the most common culprit. A child who is constipated may have infrequent bowel movements or have hard, dry stools. When this condition occurs in a toddler, it’s often due to what they’re eating (or not eating enough of) or it may crop up during potty training.

• Diet. As kids continue to expand their menu and eat new foods, they may not always get enough fiber in their diet or drink enough fluids to keep things moving. Continue to serve your child plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with whole grain foods and lots of liquids.

• Potty training. When kids start potty training too early or feel too much pressure during the process, they may rebel and hold their bowel movements. Or, your child may feel nervous about using the toilet, especially in a public restroom, and withhold stool.

With time and encouragement, your little one will eventually enjoy a variety of fiber-rich foods and become comfortable with using the toilet. Other causes of constipation that might lead to kids’ stomach pain include

• changes in routine that lead to stress (travel, moving, going to a new daycare or preschool, etc.)

• medications

• milk allergies or food sensitivities

• underlying health conditions like metabolic disorders (rare).

Contact your toddler’s healthcare provider if your child’s constipation lasts more than two weeks or if your child complains of stomach pain daily, has blood in the stool, has a fever, and/or has a loss of appetite.

Food Allergies and Intolerances

Food allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities can also cause tummy aches in toddlers. Among the most common allergy-producing foods are milk, eggs, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. If your little one has any intolerances, sensitivities, or allergies to food, they may experience stomach pain, including gas, bloating, indigestion, and diarrhea.

Keep in mind that a food intolerance or sensitivity is not the same as a food allergy. The former doesn’t initiate an immune response but can still cause stomach pain in kids. If your child has a food allergy, you will probably notice other symptoms besides a tummy ache, and some can be quite serious, such as trouble breathing or lightheadedness.

Talk to your child’s healthcare provider if you have any concerns about food allergies or if your toddler has consistent stomach pain after eating certain foods. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your child exhibits any serious symptoms of a food allergy, such as swelling, trouble breathing, or loss of consciousness.

Stomach Flu or Food Poisoning

Sometimes, stomach pain in kids comes from “stomach flu,” a common term for viral gastroenteritis. Other times, it can be due to food poisoning. Both can cause cramp-like or generalized stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Fortunately, symptoms don’t typically persist longer than 48 hours, so your little one will likely make a quick recovery.

Vomiting can last 24 hours or more when it’s the stomach flu but shouldn’t be longer than 12 hours in the case of food poisoning. Contact your child’s healthcare provider if symptoms persist or your toddler has bloody stool, a pounding heartbeat, or diarrhea and a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, and watch for signs of dehydration.

Strep Throat or Mononucleosis

Other illnesses can cause abdominal pain in children, including strep throat and mononucleosis (a. k.a. “mono”). The most common symptoms of strep throat are a fever, sore throat, and swollen tonsils and neck glands. But strep throat also can cause other symptoms in toddlers, such as stomach pains, usually in the lower abdomen. Contact your child’s healthcare provider if you suspect your toddler has strep throat, which is most often treated with antibiotics.

As for mono, the most common symptoms are very similar to those of strep throat (fever, swollen neck glands, and a sore throat), but mono also cause your toddler to have an upset stomach. Mono typically leads to localized pain, so ask your little one where it hurts. If your child has pain in the left side of the abdomen, it could be mono-induced swelling in the liver or spleen.

Although mono is pesky and can linger for weeks, symptoms usually go away on their own with lots of rest. Still, contact your child’s healthcare provider if you suspect mono. To protect the spleen and liver, the provider may recommend only light activity and play for your child until the stomach pain subsides.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can also trigger stomach pains in kids (along with constipation, as mentioned above). When your toddler has an upset stomach but doesn’t show symptoms like cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, or other signs of an infection, consider what’s going on in their life. For example, kids may experience stress when

• a family member is sick

• parents or guardians are fighting

• they’re having problems at daycare or school

• they’re angry or fearful about something.

Children might feel stressed or anxious and experience abdominal pain for other reasons and in other situations, too. Try to find out what’s bothering your child and why they’re experiencing these difficult feelings. Your toddler’s healthcare provider can help you identify the problem and suggest ways to help reduce and manage the stress. These may include dietary changes, getting more sleep, increasing the amount of time spent in play and physical activity, and doing more fun things as a family.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is very rare in children under 3 years and uncommon for kids under 5 years, but it’s still helpful to know the symptoms. If your child has a mild fever and stomach pain around the belly button, these are the two initial signs of appendicitis. Although it may seem like a minor tummy ache at first, appendicitis eventually causes worsening pain in the lower right side of the belly.

It’s best to contact child’s healthcare provider ASAP if you suspect appendicitis. If the appendix swells too much and bursts, it can cause a more serious bacterial infection. Signs of a ruptured appendix in a child include a high fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit and stomach pain moving across the belly.

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

Perhaps you’ve never heard of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (a.k.a. IgA vasculitis), as it’s not especially common. However, this condition is most likely to affect kids between the ages of 2 and 6 and can cause stomach pain. The most telling sign is a rash across the bottom, legs, and feet, but the illness also causes tummy aches and digestive problems.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura tends to go away on its own, but it’s still a good idea to contact your child’s healthcare provider if a rash develops. The illness can impact the kidneys and cause more severe digestive issues.

Home Remedies for Stomach Pain in Kids

Although a few possible reasons for your toddler’s upset stomach require a call to their healthcare provider (as mentioned above), you may wonder what to give your little one at home, especially when they’re experiencing pain at night. Luckily, there are a few remedies for stomach pain you can try at home with your kids.

Consult your child’s provider to determine a possible cause for the pain. The provider may suggest the following strategies and home remedies for stomach pain in kids:

When to Contact Your Child’s Healthcare Provider

Along with the possible causes of stomach pain in kids listed above, we also offered some guidance on when to contact your child’s healthcare provider. However, there are many additional reasons children experience abdominal pain, and you’ll need to watch for various signs and symptoms, some requiring more urgent action than others.

Contact your healthcare provider ASAP or take your toddler to the emergency room if they have stomach pain and

• vomit but don’t have bowel movements

• have blood or pus in the stool or vomit

• have dark, tar-like stool or green or yellow vomit

• experience sharp abdominal pain

• have a rigid, hard, or swollen belly

• have trouble breathing

• had a recent injury

• are being treated for a serious medical condition (such as cancer).

Other signs might require a regular consultation with your healthcare provider (but not necessarily a trip to the ER). They include

• constant stomach pain lingering for more than 24 hours (or vomiting consistently for more than 12 hours) especially if the pain increases

• stomach pain that comes and goes and lasts more than one week

• diarrhea lasting more than two days

• pain during urination

• fever over 100. 4 degrees Fahrenheit

• loss of appetite or weight loss.

The Bottom Line

The most common reason for a toddler’s stomach pain is constipation. In fact, it’s a typical source of stomachaches in kids of all ages and not usually a cause for concern. You can help your little one cope with constipation by keeping them hydrated, active, and full of fiber-rich foods.

If constipation isn’t the cause, your child might have the stomach flu or another viral illness or be feeling stressed or anxious. Call your child’s healthcare provider if stomach pain persists or worsens, or if your toddler shows any of the more serious symptoms listed above.

Though tummy aches and stomach pain are a regular part of toddler life, they do go away in time. Read about toddler development to learn more about your growing, developing, and active toddler!

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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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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