When a ‘tummy ache’ is signaling trouble

By Glenn Ellis
Contributing Writer

(TriceEdneyWire.com) — Hearing a child say “my tummy hurts” can strike fear in the heart of a parent. Stomachaches in kids can come and go, but frequent tummy troubles may need medical attention.

Stomachaches, though, are a common complaint among children, and most are completely normal: they usually suggest that a child ate too much or needs to go to the bathroom. But how do you know when tummy troubles signal something more serious?

Some of the indicators that a child’s stomachache might be serious include weight loss, fever, significant vomiting, severe diarrhea, blood in the stool or vomit, or pain in the upper right or lower right abdomen. If a child has any of these symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

A child’s digestive system consists of parts of the body working together to change the food and liquids we eat and drink, into the fuel and building blocks our bodies need. Digestion, the process of breaking down food, may take several hours to a few days, depending on what you eat. Each body part in the digestive system: mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, large intestine, colon, and rectum, plays an important role in digestion.

What causes digestive issues in children?

If the pain is in the upper right abdomen, gallbladder disease, although rare in children, could be the problem. More common causes are colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) or irritation in the first part of the small intestine.

When a child’s ache is below the belly button, the most common causes are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, colitis, or an allergic reaction. In about nine out of 10 cases, IBS or functional dyspepsia (indigestion without a known cause) are the disorders behind the pain.

IBS symptoms, such as loose and more frequent bowel movements, often occur after eating and may be treated with dietary changes, medications, or probiotics. Functional dyspepsia can cause ulcer-like symptoms like nausea, vomiting, filling up easily, and bloating. Treatments include acid-reducing drugs, which tends to work well in children.

Celiac disease is another issue that children may suffer from. It causes a lifelong intolerance to gluten – found in wheat, barley, rye, and some oats – and can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and loose or hard stools. A dietary change is usually enough to treat it.

Lactose intolerance makes it difficult for the body to efficiently process lactose, the sugar found in milk and other dairy products, and can therefore prompt stomachaches.

While both conditions aren’t as common among children, lactose intolerance happens at different ages, mainly because of genetic differences. African-American children, for instance, tend to develop allergic reaction to dairy between the age of three and five, while white children usually contract it when they are eight or 10 years old.

When your child complains of abdominal pain, see if they can describe it to you. Here are different kinds of pain: 1) Generalized pain or pain over more than half of the belly. Your child can have this kind of pain when they have a stomach virus, indigestion, gas, or when they become constipated; 2) Cramp-like pain is likely to be due to gas and bloating. It is often followed by diarrhea. It is usually not serious; or 3) Colicky pain is pain that comes in waves, usually starts and ends suddenly, and is often severe.

This article originally published in the September 10, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.