Stomach pain is very common in babies and children. It can be caused by a wide range of issues, from simple problems like gas or constipation to more concerning conditions like appendicitis or intestinal blockages. As a parent, stomach pain in your child can be worrying and frustrating, especially when the cause is unclear. This article provides an overview of the most common causes of stomach pain in babies and children, the typical symptoms, and the recommended treatments and home remedies.
Understanding the various potential causes and being able to identify worrisome symptoms is crucial for getting your child prompt medical care when needed. With the right information, many cases of childhood stomach pain can be managed at home with simple remedies and precautions. Stay informed so you can help your child feel better faster and know when it’s time to call the pediatrician.
Stomach Pain in Babies
Babies under one year experience stomach pain and discomfort frequently. Their digestive systems are still immature and their limited diet makes them prone to gas, reflux, and constipation. Common causes of stomach pain in infants include:
- Gas: All babies experience gas and abdominal discomfort. This is very normal and not a cause for concern. Gas pain may make babies fussy, squirmy, or draw their legs inward. Simple remedies like burping, tummy massage, and gas drops can provide relief.
- Reflux: Acid reflux is when stomach contents flow back up into the esophagus. Symptoms may include frequent spit up or vomit, coughing, arching the back, and crying during or after feeding. Reflux usually resolves on its own by 12 months old. In the meantime, frequent smaller feedings, keeping babies upright during and after eating, and avoiding pressure on their abdomen can help. Medications may be prescribed in severe cases.
- Constipation: Formula-fed babies and babies starting solid foods often struggle with constipation. Signs include infrequent bowel movements, straining, hard stool, and belly firmness or bloating. Adding pureed high-fiber foods, ensuring adequate hydration, abdominal massage, and glycerin suppositories can alleviate constipation.
- Food sensitivities: Some babies may experience reactions like vomiting, diarrhea, gas, or eczema when exposed to trigger foods like dairy or soy. Eliminating possible triggers from your diet if breastfeeding or from baby’s diet if formula feeding can determine if a sensitivity exists.
- Intussusception: While rare, this serious condition involves part of the intestine folding into itself and blocking the bowel. Symptoms include intermittent crying, drawing the knees upward, vomiting, bloody stool, and severe belly pain. Intussusception requires emergency medical care.
- Hernia: An umbilical hernia (bulge around the belly button) is common and harmless. However, a hiatal or inguinal hernia higher up in the abdomen causes stomach pain and vomiting. Surgery may be needed to repair an infant hernia.
Stomach Aches in Older Children
Once babies transition to solid foods and become more mobile, causes of stomach pain expand. Some common sources of abdominal pain in toddlers and older children include:
- Constipation: Stool retention from inadequate fiber, fluids, or activity can lead to abdominal discomfort, bloating, and infrequent bowel movements. Adding fiber-rich foods, encouraging exercise, hydrating adequately, and establishing potty routines can often resolve constipation.
- Gas and bloating: Swallowing air when eating, chewing gum, or drinking carbonated beverages introduces air into the digestive tract. This causes gas pain. Slowing down while eating, avoiding gum, limiting soda, and using over-the-counter gas relief drops or simethicone can help.
- Stomach flu: Viruses like norovirus and rotavirus often cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. These viruses run their course over a few days. It’s important to prevent dehydration by offering frequent small sips of electrolyte-containing fluids.
- Food poisoning: Consuming contaminated foods introduces bacterial toxins that trigger violent vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Salmonella, E. coli, and listeria are common culprits. Maintain hydration and call a doctor if symptoms don’t improve after 24 hours.
- Lactose intolerance: Some children lack adequate lactase enzymes to properly digest lactose in dairy products. Consuming milk and milk products causes abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea. Reducing dairy intake helps manage symptoms. Lactase supplements can also help digest lactose.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): IBS causes chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, or alternating symptoms. Trigger foods, stress, microbiome imbalance, and neurotransmitter issues may contribute. A high-fiber diet, probiotics, antispasmodics, psychotherapy, and medication can provide relief.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): When stomach acid frequently flows back up into the esophagus, it irritates the tissue and causes heartburn, regurgitation, chest and stomach pain. Diet changes, weight management, antacids, H2 blockers, and PPI medications can reduce reflux symptoms.
- Peptic ulcers: These open sores form on the stomach lining or small intestine when too much acid production erodes the tissue. Pain is often worse between meals, at night, or when the stomach is empty. Ulcers require medical treatment with antibiotics, PPIs, and Dietary modifications.
- Appendicitis: Infection and swelling of the appendix causes constant abdominal pain beginning near the belly button and later migrating to the lower right abdomen. Vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite often occur too. Appendicitis is a medical emergency requiring prompt surgery.
When to See a Doctor for Abdominal Pain
Most common stomach aches in children can be managed with home treatment and don’t require seeing a doctor. However, certain symptoms warrant prompt medical evaluation:
- Severe, persistent pain that gets steadily worse
- Constant pain confined to one area of the abdomen
- Bloody vomit or stool
- Bilious vomiting (green or yellow fluid)
- High fever of 102°F (38.9°C) or higher
- Signs of dehydration like crying without tears, sunken eyes, dry mouth, dark urine
- Inability to pass stool or gas for over 2 days
- Recent abdominal injury or trauma
- Family history of inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or stomach ulcers
- Persistent vomiting lasting over 12 hours
- Blood in the stool
- Abdominal pain that wakes a child up from sleep
Any concerning symptoms in infants under 3 months old also warrant immediate medical assessment as serious conditions can rapidly become dangerous in very young babies.
Conclusion
Stomach and abdominal pain are exceedingly common complaints in babies and children. Harmless causes like gas, constipation and viral bugs are often to blame. But parents need to stay alert for any red flags that could indicate a more serious problem requiring medical intervention. Pay close attention to location and severity of pain, vomiting patterns, bowel movement changes, fever, and dehydration signs.
Try simple home remedies first for mild symptoms: tummy massage, warm baths, extra hydration, probiotics, diet changes. Over-the-counter medications can also help relieve gas, reflux, or constipation. If problems persist for over 48 hours or any worrying symptoms develop, don’t hesitate to call the pediatrician. Early diagnosis and treatment for appendicitis, bowel obstruction, ulcers, or other dangerous conditions can prevent serious complications.
Trust your instincts as a parent. You know your child best. With a combination of vigilant observation, home treatment, and prompt medical care when warranted, most causes of childhood stomach pain can be resolved and your child restored to health.