Your child can have a “tummy ache” for lots of reasons. What I tell residents or medical students is to think like a doctor and give me a pathology affecting any system that presents with abdominal pain. Since I am not writing this for medical students and residents, I will try my best to give you the information you need to avoid Dr. Google. And as always, if there is anything more you need, you can reach out to us, but if there is an immediate concern, please do contact your doctor.
Some things to think about…. When and for how long does the pain come? Does it come and go, is it sharp, where is it? What is your child’s diet and water intake like? Does your child hold their poop in school, or when they are playing? Is your child waking at night to pee or having accidents?
A tummy ache could be a lot of things: constipation, new onset diabetes, strep throat…. But don’t try and diagnose your child using the internet! Keep a log of their symptoms, when it happens and what their diet and activities are like when they are having their pain. Is it related to stress? Is it worse on weekends or weekdays? Belly pain is a vague complaint that can be caused by many different culprits… poop, bacteria, stress… keep a log and talk to your doctor. Try and increase water intake, encourage your child to attempt to pass stool, and talk to them to see if anything is causing them stress. Those are some first steps to see what might be causing your child’s tummy ache. If you are concerned that they need immediate attention, then by all means, please take them to a doctor sooner than later!
