Common Causes For Stomach Pain In Children And When To Worry

What it could be

During a period, there’s a surge of prostaglandins (hormone-like substances that help control pain and inflammation), which can trigger uncomfortable muscle spasms or cramps in the uterus. (Some girls start getting them before ever having a period, as early as age nine.)

What parents can do

So how do you help your daughter cope? “Cramps respond marvellously to over-the-counter ibuprofen,” says Issenman, adding that the medication blocks the action of prostaglandins. Many parents also seek natural remedies—from boosting dairy intake before a period is due to giving (with professional advice) herbs like black haw or cramp bark.

When to worry

Call your doctor if the cramps are severe, keep getting worse, start between periods, or regularly cause your child to miss school or normal activities. Get medical advice sooner if the pain comes with fever, vomiting, heavy bleeding, dizziness, fainting, pain on one side, or symptoms that don’t seem to match a typical period, since those signs may point to something other than menstrual cramps