Common Causes For Stomach Pain In Children And When To Worry

What it could be

Do certain foods seem to set off your child’s digestive disturbances? Too much sugar from fruit juice is one possibility: Normal gut bacteria gobble up the sweet stuff and give off gas. Or an inability to digest certain simple carbohydrates could be to blame, for instance, lactose intolerance is caused by a lack of the enzyme needed to break down milk sugar.

This condition usually doesn’t strike until after age two and particularly affects children of Asian, African, First Nations, Mediterranean and Hispanic descent. Some kids also have difficulty digesting complex starches in beans and vegetables.

What parents can do

If you suspect your child is lactose intolerant, consider substituting lactose-reduced milk for regular moo juice, but check with your doctor before eliminating nutrient-packed dairy from her diet. Also, a few drops of Beano on starchy foods may make them easier to stomach.

When to worry

Call your doctor if the bloating and gas keep happening, seem to be getting worse, or are causing ongoing pain, diarrhea, constipation or missed meals. Get medical advice sooner if your child also has weight loss, vomiting, bloody stools, persistent diarrhea, poor growth, or symptoms after many different foods, since that may point to something more than simple gas, such as a food intolerance or another digestive issue.