WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What is chronic abdominal pain in children? Children aged 4 to 17 years may have chronic abdominal pain. The pain occurs in your child's abdomen at least 3 times in 3 months. What are different types of chronic abdominal pain in children? - Abdominal migraine is severe abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite.
- Functional abdominal pain is pain that has no known cause. Your child may not want to do his daily activities because of the pain.
- Functional dyspepsia is upper abdominal pain that does not go away when your child has a bowel movement.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is abdominal pain that goes away when your child has a bowel movement. Your child's bowel movements may also look different, or he may have more bowel movements than usual.
What causes chronic abdominal pain in children? The following are some causes of chronic abdominal pain: - Inflammation of the esophagus or stomach, or infections such as a parasite infection or a urinary tract infection
- Menstrual cycle (period) for females
- Anxiety and stress from problems at school or home
- Constipation or lactose intolerance
- A peptic ulcer, Crohn disease, or a urinary tract infection
- Kidney stones or gallstones
What are the signs and symptoms of chronic abdominal pain? Signs and symptoms of chronic abdominal pain will come and go. Your child may have them for a day or more, and they may go away but return. Your child may feel pain in all areas of his abdomen, and he may not want to eat. He may not want to do his daily activities, such as school or sports. He may also have any of the following: - Cramping
- Bloating and gas
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Slow growth or growth failure
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weight loss without trying
How is chronic abdominal pain diagnosed? Your child's healthcare provider will ask about your family history of abdominal pain or problems. Tell him if your child takes any medicines, and how well he eats and sleeps. Tell him if your child has any other health problems or has missed activities because of his pain. Tell him if your child has been stressed or worried lately. He will examine your child, and may have your child rate his pain using a pain scale. - Ultrasound, x-ray, CT, or MRI pictures may be used to check the organs inside your child's abdomen. Healthcare providers use these pictures to look for problems such as blocked intestines. Your child may be given contrast liquid to help healthcare providers see the pictures better. Tell the healthcare provider if your child has ever had an allergic reaction to contrast liquid. Do not let your child enter the MRI room with anything metal. Metal can cause serious injury. Tell the healthcare provider if your child has any metal in or on his body.
- A colonoscopy is a test that is done to look at your child's colon. A tube with a light on the end will be put into your child's anus. The tube is then moved up into his colon for healthcare providers to see if there are any problems.
- An endoscopy uses a scope to see the inside of your child's digestive tract. A scope is a long, bendable tube with a light on the end. A camera may be hooked to the scope so the healthcare provider can take pictures. During an endoscopy, healthcare providers may find problems with how your child's digestive tract is working. Samples may be taken from your child's digestive tract and sent to a lab for tests.
- A bowel movement and urine sample may be collected and sent to a lab for tests. The test may show which germ is causing your child's illness.
- A pregnancy test may be done for your daughter if she has started having periods.
How is chronic abdominal pain treated? Healthcare providers may not find a medical problem that is causing your child's abdominal pain. If no problem is found, they will work to decrease your child's symptoms so he can return to his normal activities. With treatment, your child's abdominal pain may decrease, happen less often, or go away. Your child may need any of the following: - Medicines may be given to decrease stomach acid or treat a bacterial infection. Your child may also be given medicine to decrease diarrhea or to calm his stomach and control vomiting. Antidepressants may also be given to help decrease your child's anxiety or help relax his upper abdomen. Do not stop giving this medicine to your child unless his healthcare provider tells you to.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy can help your child learn to cope with stress. Your child will learn how to decrease or cope with his pain if it happens when he is scared or worried.
- Surgery is rarely needed, but may be done if there is something wrong with your child's abdomen. This could be because an organ in your child's abdomen is out of place, or not working correctly. A blocked intestine is an example of why your child may need surgery.
How can I help manage my child's chronic abdominal pain? - Apply heat on your child's abdomen for 20 to 30 minutes every 2 hours for as many days as directed. Heat helps decrease pain and muscle spasms.
- Make changes to the foods you give to your child, if needed.
- Give your child more fiber if he has constipation. High-fiber foods include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods, and legumes.
- Do not give your child foods that cause gas, such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. Do not give him soda or carbonated drinks, because these may also cause gas.
- Do not give your child foods or drinks that contain sorbitol or fructose if he has diarrhea and bloating. Some examples are fruit juices, candy, jelly, and sugar-free gum. Do not give him high-fat foods, such as fried foods, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and desserts.
- Your child should drink plenty of liquids and eat small meals more often. This may help decrease his abdominal pain.
- Keep a diary of your child's pain. A diary may help your child's healthcare provider learn what is causing your child's abdominal pain. Include when the pain happens, what your child is doing, how long it lasts, and how he says it feels.
- Encourage your child to keep doing his usual activities. Encourage your child to talk about things that worry him. Find out if there are stressors at school by talking with your child's teachers. You may be able to help your child learn to cope better.
When should I seek immediate care? - Your child's abdominal pain gets worse and spreads to his back.
- Your child's bowel movement has a large amount of blood in it, or looks like black tar.
- Your child cannot stop vomiting, or vomits blood.
- Your child has diarrhea for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Your child has trouble breathing, and his skin looks pale.
When should I contact my child's healthcare provider? - Your child has abdominal pain that wakes him up at night.
- Your child has pain on his right side that does not go away.
- Your child has a fever.
- Your child has new mouth sores, trouble swallowing, or is losing weight without trying.
- Your child is not drinking liquids, and he is not urinating.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
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