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Abdominal Pain

Description

  • Pain or discomfort located between the bottom of the rib cage and the groin crease
  • The older child complains of a stomachache
  • The younger child should at least point to or hold the abdomen.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one)

When to Call Your Doctor for Abdominal Pain

Call 911 Now If:

  • Not moving or too weak to stand

Call Your Doctor Now If:

  • Your child looks or acts very sick
  • You suspect poisoning with a plant, medicine, or chemical
  • Unable to walk or walks bent over holding the abdomen
  • Pain mainly low on the right side
  • Pain or swelling in the scrotum or testicle
  • Severe pain anywhere
  • Pain (or crying) present > 2 hours
  • Blood in the bowel movements or vomiting blood
  • Vomiting bile (yellow or green)
  • Recent injury to the abdomen
  • Age under 2 years
  • Fever > 105°F (40.6°C)

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:

  • You think your child needs to be seen

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:

  • You have other questions or concerns
  • Abdominal pains are a recurrent ongoing problem

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):

Reassurance

A mild stomachache can be caused by something as simple as indigestion, gas pains or overeating. Sometimes a stomachache signals the onset of a vomiting or diarrhea illness from a virus (gastroenteritis).

Watching your child for 2 hours will usually tell you the cause.

Rest

Encourage lying down and rest until feeling better.

Clear Fluids

Offer clear fluids only (e.g., water, flat soft drinks or ½ strength fruit juice). For mild pain, offer a regular diet.

Prepare for Vomiting

Keep a vomiting pan handy. Younger children often refer to nausea as a "stomachache."

Pass a BM

Encourage sitting on the toilet and trying to pass a bowel movement (BM). This may relieve pain if it is due to constipation or impending diarrhea.

Avoid Medicines

Any drug could irritate the stomach lining and make the pain worse. Do not give any medicines for stomach cramps.

Expected Course

With harmless causes, the pain is usually better or resolved in 2 hours. With gastroenteritis (stomach flu), belly cramps may precede each bout of vomiting or diarrhea and last several days.

With serious causes (such as appendicitis) the pain worsens and becomes constant.

Call Your Doctor If:

  • Pain present > 2 hours
  • Mild pain is present > 48 hours
  • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright 2000-2009.