Stomach pain in children: is it a cause for concern?

If your child is repeatedly experiencing stomach pain, you may be concerned and want to investigate this further. We speak to renowned consultant paediatrician Dr Jonathan Henderson, who explains the most prevalent causes of stomach pain in children, home remedies and when to seek medical advice about such pain.

What are the most common causes of stomach pain in children? Is it usually related to food?

The most common causes of abdominal pain are something that we call functional; where the body is functioning to do something and that presents with pain. A classic example of this is constipation or slow transit of movement through the bowels.

We have to question if the pain is related to food. Parents often ask me if the pain their child is experiencing is an indicator of coeliac disease, and this may be a possibility.

In order to ensure that we do not misdiagnose functional pain as coeliac disease, we often conduct a simple blood test. If the pain is found to be food-related, we ask parents to keep a food diary for their child, taking note of what their child eats. If any pain follows the time of day this happens, and if it occurs overnight, this helps us work towards investigating if the cause of the tummy pain is linked to what is being eaten.

Is it normal for children to experience stomach pain often?

Stomach pain can arise from various causes, and when it occurs in the centre of a child’s tummy, it may indicate medical conditions originating elsewhere in the body.

Pain originating from the abdomen is not always indicative of a serious diagnosis. Conversely, the absence of pain can sometimes serve as a critical indicator in medicine and can be the sign of a red flag that requires early identification

What is the best home remedy for children with stomach pain?

There can be several different possible reasons for stomach pain in children, and its treatment is based on identifying the cause and addressing it accordingly. However, at home, providing simple pain relief, such as paracetamol is helpful and can offer some relief, because tummy pain that doesn't respond to pain relief may be a sign of an underlying issue which requires further investigation.

When should we seek medical advice?

If you have any concerns about your child’s stomach pain, you should seek medical advice. If tummy pain is associated with symptoms outside of the tummy such as shortness of breath for example, this is a cause for concern.  Certain conditions, such as appendicitis, which require immediate surgical intervention, are known to manifest with such symptoms.

If your child has abdominal pain with a temperature, or vomiting this shouldn’t be ignored, and should prompt a medical assessment. Once we gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct an examination of your child, we'll likely have a preliminary understanding of the situation. However, additional investigations may be necessary to guide treatment or ensure that we are not overlooking any other issues.

What types of tests might be performed to investigate stomach pain in children?

It's important to note that investigations may not always be required, which is appropriate in certain cases. However, if deemed necessary, these could involve procedures such as blood tests, urine samples, and occasionally imaging techniques like ultrasound or X-rays. In more critical scenarios, where a deeper assessment is warranted, we might consider employing invasive methods such as endoscopy to examine the area more closely.

If you are concerned about your child’s stomach pain and would like to book a consultation with Dr Henderson, do not hesitate to do so by visiting his Top Doctors profile today.