Common Causes For Stomach Pain In Children And When To Worry

What it could be

Fever usually signals that the body’s anti-infection forces are battling bacteria or viruses. If the tummy ache quickly leads to vomiting and diarrhea, the prime suspects are organisms like Norovirus and rotavirus, passed between children via the “bums to gums” route, or food-borne illnesses such as Salmonella, says Robert Issenman, chief of paediatric gastroenterology at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton and president-elect of the Canadian Paediatric Society.

“About 90 percent of gastroenteritis or ‘stomach flu’ is caused by viral infections that get better on their own,” he reassures. Similarly, most cases of food poisoning don’t require special treatment. The exceptions—including those caused by E. coli-contaminated water or hamburgers—are relatively uncommon and tend to trigger scarier symptoms like bloody diarrhea (see Red Flags).

What parents can do

The biggest concern with vomiting and diarrhea is dehydration. Offer small, frequent sips of an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte or Gastrolyte, which replace both fluids and electrolytes. Juice and other sugary drinks can make diarrhea worse. If your child can keep fluids down and is peeing normally, most stomach bugs improve on their own — but signs of dehydration mean it’s time to call your doctor.

Don’t give anti-diarrhea or anti-nausea medicines unless your doctor recommends them, since some products aren’t appropriate for children.

Again, fever indicates the immune system is mobilizing its foot soldiers. Soreness in the lower abdomen could be due to a urinary tract infection (UTI), which is more likely to affect a girl than a boy because of her shorter urethra (the tube that empties urine out of the bladder).

Burning or pain while peeing are dead giveaways, but not all kids experience these symptoms, and toddlers may not be able to tell you exactly where it hurts. Also, some kids are prone to puking when their temperatures rise, so vomiting doesn’t rule out a UTI.

If you suspect your child has a UTI, a simple urine test by your doctor can confirm the diagnosis, and she’ll receive antibiotics so the infection doesn’t spread to the kidneys. Avoiding bubble baths, encouraging good bathroom hygiene and wiping front to back may help lower the risk of future UTIs. Some research suggests cranberry products may help prevent some infections in some children, but the evidence is mixed, and cranberry juice won’t treat an active UTI.

When to worry

Get medical advice if your child shows signs of dehydration, can’t keep fluids down, has bloody diarrhea, severe pain, unusual sleepiness, or symptoms that are getting worse instead of better.