Causes For Child’s Abdominal Pain

onstipation can be overlooked as the cause of severe or intermittent abdominal pain, as a reporting of symptoms alone does not always establish that a child has constipation, she said.Our study helps to show that constipation frequently causes acute abdominal pain and that a physician should not just ask the parent if the child is constipated because the parent may have not been able to see all the signs of this condition.The doctor should perform an abdominal examination and a rectal examination to see if the child is retaining stool, said Loening, who sees patients at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.

Viruses or bacteria can cause abdominal pain, typically from stomach flu or gut flu. Viral infections tend to go away quickly, while bacterial infections may need an antibiotic to get better.Food poisoning, food allergies, eating excessive food, or gas production any of these can cause bloating and temporary discomfort.This can range from simple problems, such as eating soap, to more serious issues like swallowing iron pills or an overdose of medications.These include appendicitis and blockage of the bowels.Things outside the abdomen can cause abdominal pain. For example, a child can have abdominal pain from complications of diabetes or from a black widow spider bite.

Many things can cause pain in your child’s abdomen. Pain may be caused by an infection or an injury. The pain may be due to a serious problem or by something as simple as gas. It can be caused by nerves being stretched, or by appendicitis. Diarrhea or constipation may also cause your child to have pain in your belly.An injury or a stomach or bowel infection may cause belly pain. Things your child eats or drinks may cause your stomach to be upset and cause belly pain. Or, it may not be known what is causing your child’s abdominal pain.

The likely diagnosis is often suggested by the child’s age and clinical features.The causes of acute abdominal pain in children will be discussed in this review. The emergent evaluation of children with acute abdominal pain and the evaluation and management of children with chronic abdominal pain are discussed separately.The most common surgical cause for childhood abdominal pain is appendicitis. This usually presents with pain starting in the center of the abdomen moving to the right side. It can be associated with nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Prompt surgical attention is needed and the child must be taken to the emergency room immediately.

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