Common Causes of Abdominal Pain
Stomach aches are among the most common reasons children see a doctor. They range from severe to mild, sudden (‘acute’) to prolonged (‘chronic’), and can be located throughout the abdomen, or focused in just one part of it. Let’s take a closer look at potential causes of each type of abdominal pain.
Common Causes of Mild, Acute (sudden) Abdominal Pain:
Gastroenteritis – an infection of the intestines that can cause vomiting and diarrhea
Gastritis – an inflammation of the stomach lining
Constipation
Strep throat
Pneumonia
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
More Serious Causes of Acute Abdominal Pain:
Appendicitis
Bowel obstruction
Gallstones
Kidney stones
Pancreatitis
Ovarian or testicular torsion
Ectopic pregnancy
Common Causes of Chronic (Long Term) Abdominal Pain:
Constipation
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC)
Celiac disease
Carbohydrate malabsorption
Chronic reflux (heartburn)
Functional abdominal pain – a category of stomach aches that is diagnosed only after more serious causes have been ruled out. (Examples of functional abdominal pain include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Abdominal Migraines, and Functional Dyspepsia.)
Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain
Evaluation and diagnosis of abdominal pain depends primarily on its severity and duration.
Sudden and acute abdominal pain should be evaluated in a hospital setting immediately, usually requiring one or more of the following:
Blood tests
Urine tests
Xray
Ultrasound or CT scan
Chronic or less severe abdominal pain can be evaluated in an outpatient setting and might require some of the following:
Blood tests
Urine tests
Xray
Ultrasound or CT scan
Lastly, if certain foods are suspected, you might be asked to keep a food diary to evaluate for a pattern.
Treatment of Abdominal Pain
For sudden, acute abdominal pain, treatment might include:
IV fluids
Pain medications
Antibiotics
Surgery
For Chronic or Less Severe Abdominal Pain Treatment may Include:
Laxatives (in cases of constipation)
Dietary restrictions or modifications
Exercise
Rest
Stress reduction
Addressing underlying anxiety
Probiotics
Other medications
See a doctor in person if…
The abdominal pain occurs suddenly or is severe
If your child is unable to eat or drink
If the pain interferes with your child’s daily activities
The pain is accompanied by dark green vomit
The pain is associated with trauma
The pain occurs during pregnancy or suspected pregnancy