I recently traveled to San Diego for a conference and had the wonderful opportunity to catch up with my girlfriends from medical school. Both of them have two kids in elementary school right now.
One friend shared that her 10 year old son has been dealing with frequent abdominal pain since he was a baby. Hearing about his journey brought me to realize that over the years, he’s experienced almost every common cause of tummy troubles in kids. My friend’s challenge has always been figuring out how serious each situation is and whether to head to urgent care, make an appointment with the pediatrician, or just wait and see.
Common Causes of Pediatric Abdominal Pain
The conversation inspired me to write a blog about the common causes of abdominal pain in children for our readers. We’ll also dive deeper into some of these conditions in future posts. Let’s discuss about some of the usual culprits here!
Colic
Colic is most common in infants aged 2-6 weeks and can last until they are 3-6 months old. Its telltale signs include repeated bouts of prolonged crying, fussiness, and irritability, often lasting over 3 hours a day, at least 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks.
It’s understandable that this can make many parents feel stressed and overwhelmed!
Babies might show their discomfort by passing gas, belching, burping, clenching their fists, or arching their backs. These symptoms often appear in the late afternoon or early evening, usually around the same time each day. While the exact cause isn’t clear, it’s often linked to tummy irritation.
Infectious Gastroenteritis
This is usually caused by a viral infection rather than a bacterial one. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in kids under 5, especially those aged 6 months to 2 years.
Common symptoms include vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. In severe cases, dehydration, seizures, and even death can occur, which is why the vaccine is recommended for babies aged 2-6 months.
If you suspect your child has symptoms of infectious gastroenteritis, be sure to consult your healthcare provider for proper care. Keeping your child hydrated is crucial in managing this illness. If you notice signs of dehydration, like a rapid pulse, dry mouth, sunken eyes, cool skin, reduced urination, fatigue, shortness of breath, or irritability, seek medical help immediately.
Constipation
Chronic constipation is a common issue for children aged 6 months to teenagers. For newborns, it’s typical for babies to have a bowel movement as often as they eat, with stools usually being liquid or very soft. Breastfed babies might have infrequent bowel movements, sometimes just once a week, since breast milk is easily absorbed. If the baby is uncomfortable, it may need attention.
It’s normal for babies to strain during a bowel movement, so don’t be alarmed. Changes often occur when a baby starts on solid foods. By age 2, most children have bowel movements 1-2 times a day, but going every 2-3 days can still be normal. If you notice excessive gas, bloating, bedwetting, soiling, or behavioral issues, these could be signs of constipation. If you suspect constipation, talk with your child’s medical provider about dietary fiber, water and other fluid intake, physical activity and other possible causes.
Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety and stress is another common cause of abdominal pain in kids, from toddlers to teenagers. Stress can worsen constipation, leading to more discomfort before bowel movements. Worries at home or at school can present as abdominal pain. Anxiety from issues like soiling, bedwetting, embarrassment, school accidents, or bullying can add to this stress, creating a tough cycle. Fear of sleeping alone at night might also cause tummy aches before bed. Navigating these issues can be challenging.
Creating a supportive and encouraging environment for your children is key.
Encourage them to share their feelings and fears openly, without shame or judgment. Help them understand how anxiety can affect their gut and provide tools to manage their stress.
Ready to experience a higher level of care?
If your child often experiences abdominal pain, reach out to our staff at Naturopathic Family Health. Our caring naturopathic doctors are here to help you explore comprehensive solutions.
Call us today to schedule an appointment and let us guide you towards effective, natural approaches to managing your child’s discomfort. We look forward to supporting your family’s health journey!
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Dr. Sherry Su, ND, FABNG
Naturopathic Doctor San Jose
408-356-1364
